Dodds, Marci (1959-) | University of Illinois Archives

Marci Dodds (1959- ) was born in Champaign, Illinois to parents Donald Dodds and Martha Sanford. Dodds moved to Chicago at age 11 and was raised there. Dodds earned a Philosophy and Psychology degree from Brandeis University. She began a masters degree progam in creative writing in Houston, but later transfered to UCLA, where she earned her masters degree in screenwriting. She arrived in Manhattan in the 1980s, where she met the rock musician Jon "Cody" Sokolski. The two were married in 1986 and would have two children together.

The couple decided to open a record store in 1989, moving back to Champaign in 1990 to open Periscope CD's and Tapes. Between 1993 and 1999, Dodds edited The Scope newsletter for the business. From 2001 to 2008, she served as the music writer and editor for The Octopus, a local newspaper that was founded by Paul Young in 1995. In the 2000s she became interested in politics, serving Champaign's District 4 on the Champaign City Council from 2005 until 2016. In 2010, she earned a degree in nursing and worked for Carle Hospital until 2016, when she and Sokolski moved to Chicago.

"Champaign City Council Member to Resign," Daily Illini (February 24, 2016). https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/2016/02/24/champaign-city-council-member-to-resign/

Paul Wood, "Family Life Better than Chasing Fame," News Gazette (1995).

Rebecca Pulsifer, "15 Questions for Marci Dodds," Smile Politely (March 18, 2014): https://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/15_questions_for_marci_dodds/

Donald Dodds Obituary (March 29, 2018): https://www.morganmemorialhome.com/obituaries/Donald-Dodds?obId=26179422