NC SOS

EDUCATION

• 1989 Phi Kappa Phi, Academic Honorary
• 1981 Graduate, Campbell University School of Law, JD
• 1979 Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges
• 1968 Graduate, University of Maryland, B.S. in Textiles and Clothing

HONORARY DEGREES

• 2011 Honorary Doctorate Degree, Republic of Moldova State University of Medicine
• 2008 Honorary Doctorate Degree, Campbell University
• 2004 Honorary Doctorate Degree from Meredith College
• 2004 Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lees-McRae College

PROFESSIONAL

• 2015 President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
• 2012 Named to the Triangle’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders list by Triangle Business Journal
• 2011 Interview for Good Morning America segment “Flea Market Fakes: GMA Goes Undercover at North Carolina Sting of Counterfeit Merchandise”
• 2010 Interview for Good Morning America segment “Fake Fragrances: What is Really in Them?”
• 2009 Testified before US Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee
• 2007 Speaker, US Chamber of Commerce Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit
• 2007 President of eC3 (National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council)
• 2004 Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture (N.C. State University)
• 2004 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International/State Honorary Membership (Education)
• 1997-date North Carolina Secretary of State
• 1997-date Speaker, Various national and international forums on counterfeit goods
• 1993-1997 Partner, Marshall & Marshall, Lillington, N.C.
• 1985-1992 Partner, Bain & Marshall, Lillington, N.C.
• 1981-1984 Associate, Office of Edgar R. Bain, Lillington, N.C.
• 1975-1979 Owner and Decorator, The Custom House, Dunn, N.C.
• 1970-1977 Instructor, Lenoir Community College and Johnston Tech
• 1969-1970 Teacher, Lenoir County School System
• 1969-1974 Co-owner, book and gift store
• 1964-1966 Director of Camping, Maryland 4-H Foundation (summers)

ACTIVITIES AND HONORS

• 2024 Order of the Republic, the Government of Moldova’s highest honor. Presented by President Maia Sandu;
• 2023 First Annual Achievement Award from the national Notary Public Administrators Section of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2023, also named in her honor as the Jaeger-Marshall NPA Achievement Award;
• 2023 Creation of the Elaine F. Marshall Academic Scholarship from the North Carolina Notary Association (NCNA) for Active NCNA members;
• 2022 North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, presented by Governor Roy Cooper
• 2022 Champion for Children Award from the NC Foundation for Public School Children
• 2020 Boundless Impacts’ Ray of Light award for decades of work advancing North Carolina’s Global Competitiveness
• The 2022 Champion for Children Award from the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children;
• 2020 Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award from the North Carolina Bar Association
• 2019 Brand Protection Hero Award from the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP);
• 2018 Person of the Year Award from The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina
• 2018 Inductee, North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame
• 2017 Charlotte Business Journal’s International Trade Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2017 Aging Project, Inc.’s President’s Award
• 2017 NASS Medallion Award for Outstanding Business Services and Electronic Governance
• 2017 Meredith College’s Woman of Achievement Award
• 2016 Leadership North Carolina’s Governor’s Award
• 2016 U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors Certificate of Appreciation
• 2014 Selected as a member of the National 4-H Hall of Fame, Class of 2014
• 2014 Campbell University’s Distinguished Alumni Award
• 2014 Public Policy Leader Award, National Association of Women Business Owners, Charlotte Chapter
• 2013 National Foundation for Women Legislators’ Elected Women of Excellence Award
• 2013 Johnny C. Wynne Award for Distinguished Service to North Carolina 4-H
• 2012 Triangle Business Journal’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders
• 2011 North Carolina Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force Public Sector Award
• 2011 Medal of Honor, Republic of Moldova
• 2010 “Distinguished Citizen” Award, Alpha Gamma Delta, International Fraternity (highest honor)
• 2007 Hewlett-Packard Brand Protection Award
• 2007 Honorary Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer
• 2007 US Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award for State Government Official
• 2007 Named to National Notary magazine’s list of “50 Most Influential People in Notarization in the Last 50 Years.”
• 2007 Delta Kappa Gamma Society Eta State Founders Award
• 2006 eC3 (National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council) P.K. Agarwal Leadership Award
• 2006 National Notary Association Achievement Award
• 2006 Triangle Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Business
• 2005 Recording Industry of America Gold Record (Honorary)
• 2005 Underwriters Laboratory Recognition Award
• 2005 North Carolina Association of Educators’ Women’s Equality Award
• 2005 Triangle Business Journal’s Women in Business Award
• 2005 International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) “GetREAL” Award
• 2004 Inducted into Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture (N.C. Chapter)
• 2004 Common Cause "Leadership in Government" Award
• 2004 Distinguished Attorney Award, N.C. Association of Women Attorneys
• 2003 N.C. 4-H’s Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2003 “Top Twenty-Five” Award for Government Technology Leadership in America by Government Technology magazine
• 2003 Named one of Business Leader magazine's ten "Women Extraordinaire"
• 2002 “In the Arena” Award for technology products, Center for Digital Government
• 2002 “Best of Breed Programs” Award for personal leadership, Center for Digital Government
• 2001 Alumni of the Year, North Carolina 4-H, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
• 2001 Academy of Women, Wake County YWCA
• 2001 Young Democrats of America’s James Earl Carter Outstanding Alumni Award
• 2000 Academy of Trial Lawyers’ Special Achievement Award for Technology
• 1998 Career Woman of the Year, Business & Professional Women in North Carolina
• 1998 Leadership in Technology Award, N.C. Electronics and Information Technology Association
• 1997 Richter Moore Public Service, N.C. Political Science Association
• 1997 N.C. Council for Women, Distinguished Citizen
• 1996 N.C. Association of Women Attorneys’ Gwyneth B. Davis Award
• 1994 Honorary Member, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society
• 1994 Lillington Woman of the Year
• 1994 Public Citizen of the Year, N.C. Chapter, National Association of Social Workers
• 1993 to date Women's Forum of N.C., Inc.
• 1992 Harnett HelpNet for Children Chairperson, Founding Chairperson
• 1992 North Carolina Friend of Extension Award
• 1991 Speaker, Spotlight on Women Series – sponsored by UNC-CH and BPW/NC
• 1991 Fellow, North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership
• 1990 Dunn Business Woman of the Year
• 1990 Speaker, Spotlight on Women Series – sponsored by UNC-CH and BPW/NC
• 1989-1990 Family Community Leadership Conference Speaker, Kellogg Foundation & N.C. Extension Service (8 counties)
• 1989 N.C. Extension Homemakers "Special Support" Award
• 1989 Harnett County 4-H Alumni of the Year
• 1988-1991 Founding Board, Harnett County Rape Crisis (now SAFE of Harnett)
• 1987-1990 N.C. Business and Professional Women Legal Advisor
• 1986 Speaker, Spotlight on Women Series – sponsored by UNC-CH and BPW/NC
• 1982-2000 Harnett Area BPW
• 1967 International Farm Young Exchange Delegate to Brazil
• 1963 National Scholarship Winner - 4-H Foundation
• 1963 Maryland 4-H President
• Always 4-H and Extension Volunteer

POLITICAL

• 2020 Certificate in Recognition of Public Service, League of Women Voters of Wake County
• 2018 Certificate of Appreciation, League of Women Voters of Wake County
• 2017 Trailblazer Award, Wake County Democratic Men’s Club
• 2011 Volunteer Award, Wake County Democratic Party
• 2010 Democratic nominee for United State Senate
• 2010 “Outstanding Woman in Public Office” Award, National Federation of Democratic Women of America
• 1997-date North Carolina Secretary of State
• 1993-1994 Senator, 15th District of North Carolina
• 1991-1992 Harnett County Democratic Party Chair
• 1983-1987 Democratic Women of Harnett County - President
• 1977-1979 Young Democrats of America, National Secretary
• 1974-1977 National Committee Woman, Young Democrats of North Carolina
• Various Many local, district, and state committees

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

• 2019-2023 Campbell University Board of Trustees
• 2014-date Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law Board of Visitors
• 2003-2007 Masonic Home for Children, Board
• 2003-2007 Latin American Resource Center, Board of Directors
• 2001-2004 Chair, E-Government Committee, N.C. Information Resource Management Commission
• 2000-2009 eC3 (National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council) Board member (2000- 2003), Member 2005-2009, Vice President (2006), President (2007)
• 1998-date National Association of Secretaries of State, Co-Chair of Standing Committees on Business Services, International Relations, and Securities, various years
• 1998-2002 Meredith College, Board of Trustees
• 1997-date Co-Chair, North Carolina – Moldova Partnership
• 1997-2004 Chair, Electronic Commerce Work Group, N.C. Information Resource Management Commission
• 1997-2006 N.C. Institute of Political Leadership, Board of Directors
• 1997-2010 North Carolina Board of Economic Development
• 1994-1996 N.C. Justice Academy Foundation, Board of Directors
• 1993-1994 Co-Chair, N.C. Information Highway Grants Advisory Committee, Family Issues Study Commission, Medicaid Study Commission
• 1994-2000 N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, Board of Directors
• 1993-1994 N.C. Rural Economic Development Fund, Inc., Board of Directors
• 1993-1994 North Carolina Courts Commission, Juvenile Code Study Commission
• 1993-1994 Agriculture and Forestry Resources Study Commission, Joint Legislative Highway Oversight Committee
• 1992 Legislative Research Study Commission on Alternative Health Care
• 1990-date N.C. 4-H Development Fund, Inc. Board of Directors
• 1987-1996 Harnett County United Way - Board of Directors

LEGAL ACTIVITIES

• 2011-date Co-Chair, Business Identity Theft Task Force, National Association of Secretaries of State
• 2007-2010 Co-Chair, Company Formation Task Force, National Association of Secretaries of State
• 2007-date Observer Status, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
• 2006 Chair, National E-Notarization Standards Commission
• 2005-2006 Chair, North Carolina E-Notarization Advisory Council
• 1999-date Committee on Women in the Profession, N.C. Bar Association
• 1995 Legislative Chairman, N.C. Association of Women Attorneys
• 1988-1992 Governor, N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers
• 1988-1989 President, Harnett County Bar Association
• 1985-1986 Vice-President - Campbell University School of Law Alumni Assoc.
• 1982-1984 Adjunct faculty, Trial Advocacy Program, Campbell University School of Law
• 1982-date Trial Judge & Appellate Judge for Campbell University Law Students
• Various Seminar Speaker, N.C. Bar Association, Association of Women Attorneys
• Various Speaker, Annual Meeting N.C. Association of Women Attorneys

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Membership in: North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

• North Carolina Courts, U.S. District Court - Eastern & Middle Districts of N.C., Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

• Born: November 18, 1945
• Raised: Lineboro, Md., a small farming village on the Mason-Dixon line
• Parents: Donald and Pauline Folk (both deceased)
• Occupations: Farmer and feed dealer; homemaker
• Member: Divine Street Methodist Church, Dunn N.C.
• Marital Status: Widow