Growing up in Long Beach, California, and New Haven, Connecticut, with 12 siblings and facing poverty throughout his adolescence, Fuller experienced adversity that compelled him to pursue a career in pharmacy. Working as a tech at Walgreens during high school, Fuller realized his love for pharmacy aligned with his desire to connect with his community and change the disproportionate and generational health disparities experienced by the Black community and lower socioeconomic communities.
After spending a brief time in Houston to finish high school, Fuller moved back to Connecticut. Upon his return, he started working for a floor-cleaning business started by his older brothers while deciding where to pursue his passion for pharmacy. He began his undergraduate journey at Southern Connecticut State University before transferring to UConn in 1999.
During his time at the School, Fuller’s passion for community health was deepened during his rotations and externships. Also working as a tech at Ride Aid during this time, Fuller found his involvement in blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1C screenings to be a motivator to pursue his own community health initiatives.
Fuller executed one of these initiatives and worked with former dean Robert McCarthy and former associate dean Ken Speranza as a third-year pharmacy student when he facilitated a partnership between UConn Pharmacy and the Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, Charles Warner, to begin a program for high school students. Over the next four years, New Haven high school students received transportation to UConn to learn about careers in pharmacy. Seeing the value of building connection points in communities early on in his career, Fuller believes that increased diversity in the healthcare and pharmaceutical fields is vital to help the most susceptible patient populations.
“I believe with exposure is expansion, and once you get exposed to something, you know how you can use your gifts, talents, skills, and abilities to amplify, impact, and help others.”
As the 10th child in his family and the first to go to college, Fuller inspired his younger siblings to receive higher education. But as a first-generation college student, Fuller didn’t have anyone to lean on when it came time to submit ACT scores, take out student loans, manage his time most effectively, or navigate college as a first-time father. He credits UConn for helping him connect with many resources, including professors, counselors, and the Bursar’s office, and giving him the opportunity to succeed.
Despite some of the pressures, Fuller made sure to still enjoy his years as a Husky. Reminiscing about his journey, Fuller fondly remembers the parties he and his classmates would have in the old pharmacy building after the last day of finals (and all the hours in Babbidge Library prior to these parties).
After graduating from UConn’s School of Pharmacy in 2004, Fuller started his career as a retail pharmacist at Walmart. In this position, Fuller helped launch the $4 Generic Prescription Program, providing a wide selection of generic drugs for affordable prices at assisted living facilities in local communities. With a desire to have more patient impact, Fuller moved on to a role in inpatient rehab at Carolinas Healthcare System, currently Atrium Health. After a few years, Fuller transitioned into a role working with Medicaid Population Health Management with Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg, with the goal to decreasing readmissions in hospitals and hospital costs. Wanting an even greater impact, Fuller began his career in big pharma at Sanofi and is currently supporting innovative therapies in oncology at a Fortune 500 pharma company.
Called to serve others from a young age, Fuller’s emergence in the nonprofit world came from his childhood experiences of growing up without a lot of good role models. Now, as the person he needed when he was younger, Fuller believes that providing solutions to problems before people even know they have a need is the basis of a valuable non-profit.
After moving from New Haven to Orlando, Florida, Fuller and his wife, Christina, started a nonprofit in 2016. This nonprofit, CoolKids.org, focuses on teaching finance literacy to those of all ages, with an emphasis on middle and high school students. Putting tools in the toolkits of young adults, Fuller and his wife aim to have a multi-generational impact on creating financial stability. Helping students and parents learn about budgeting, investing, immediate gratification, real estate, and more, CoolKids.org has reached 40,000 students and parents.
Partnering with celebrities and influencers, CoolKids.org has created an impact on a multitude of levels. The nonprofit has even emerged onto the music scene, and “Doc Fuller” will release his third album, entitled Syllabus: Junior Year, in the next few months. Additional CoolKids.org projects include a TV app called Jar, an annual festival, called FinLit Fest, with guests such as Magic Johnson, John Hope Bryant, and the rapper, T.I., a curriculum program in the New York City Public School system, and many turkey and toy drives.
In addition to these projects, Fuller’s new initiative is teaching a credited music-infused financial literacy class at the World Trade Center in partnership with Phillip Grandison (New York Life partner) and NYC Brooklyn South High School Superintendent Michael Prayor. Prayor is under the leadership of the new NYC Chancellor Kamar Samuels and new NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who are progressing efforts to create meaningful impacts in the lives of students. In this experience, students will have the opportunity to take a tour of Wall Street trading floors.
On June 13th, 2026, CoolKids.org will host FinLit Fest at the Georgia Tech Exhibition Hall in Atlanta, a festival for parents and children to learn about financial literacy. CoolKids.org will also be working with a project management firm to educate its 16,000 residents on financial literacy.
With his role in pharmaceutical medical affairs, CoolKids.org, and several other ventures, including a wood watch company called Lobeca, all while raising four children with his wife, Fuller views time as his greatest asset. Following his embedded purpose, Fuller makes sure to surround himself with people who are adding to or multiplying his goals. Because he has a mission to fulfill and is driven by his spiritual beliefs, Fuller has decreased distractions in his life to remain focused. With 20 years of no cable TV and only minimal time on social media, Fuller invests time in his education, mission, and family.
Believing education to be a valuable investment, Fuller took a leadership course at Cornell University before receiving financial literacy credentials from Columbia University after his time as a Husky. The culmination of his education and experiences is on full display in his six books he’s written, detailing financial literacy, life skills, and development. On January 8th, he released his latest book, entitled Wealth Mindset for Teens.
A man of many passions, Fuller lives by the acronym of T.I.P. (time, investment, and purpose), which he first developed during his time at UConn. By utilizing time, investing in oneself and others, and living with purpose, everyone can find success on their own terms. During his motivational speeches as a keynote speaker, Fuller inspires people to look beyond short-term goals or profit-driven mindsets and uncover their true purpose.
“I think a lot of people are focused on paychecks and positions. They’re focused on profits when they should be focused on purpose. Purpose gives you that lifelong happiness and fulfillment.”
When asked about the advice he would give students, Fuller emphasizes the endless opportunities UConn has to offer. From the culture, community, and clubs, students can find their own success and build a network of support. As a current member of the UConn Pharmacy Advisory Board and a proud donor to the School, Fuller strives to give back to the community that fostered his passions. Additionally, Fuller has traveled to Storrs on several occasions to lead financial literacy classes to educate the next generation. In ensuring that students leave college with the skills needed to find success in their careers and in their fiscal decisions, Fuller aims to educate the next generation on financial literacy.
Driven by purpose and fueled by impact, Marlon Fuller embodies the Husky spirit.
