Marcia Reid Fotheringham, JP, DL, was born in London and moved to New York, USA as a child; she was raised and educated there. Marcia attended Hofstra University, Long Island, NY, and graduated: BS Sociology 1976; MS Psychology 1978; and PD Family Therapy 1979.
Following university, Marcia moved to Massachusetts and worked at Emerson College, AtlantiCare Medical Center, Efficacy Research Institute and The State of Massachusetts. She held a variety of positions including: a clinical psychologist and family therapist, a clinical supervisor, a mental health director, a senior administrator, a facilitator responsible for providing therapeutic learning services, administrative management, focus groups, the distribution of state funds for residential mental health facilities, and became a quality management expert. Marcia also had a successful clinical private practice in Salem, Massachusetts.
In 1997 Marcia moved to Cumbria, UK. Marcia, along with her husband, was the owner/Director of two dental practices managing all administrative aspects including customer services, CQC, human resources and quality management. She became a psychologist/family therapist for NHS, Cumbria at Portland Square. She provided outpatient family therapy, within CAMHS and Psychology, working with referred children, family and adults with a variety of complex life and community issues. Marcia initially agreed to work for a year for the NHS; she retired 10 years later.
In 2001, Marcia became a JP. As a Magistrate, Marcia sat in the Adult Courts (crime) and Family Court Panels. She was an appraiser and Training & Development Committee Member. She became Carlisle Bench Deputy Chair; and was Chair of North & West Cumbria Bench. Marcia became the North West Regional Representative to the National Bench Chair Forum and National Representative to the Probation Sentencing Board. She took a year’s leave of absence while being Cumbria’s High Sheriff and had a most successful year promoting Cumbria and Cumbrians. Marcia resigned as a Magistrate, after almost 20 years, in August 2021.
For 5 years, Marcia was a Board member of Safety Net (an agency providing mental health services and support to complex families with a history of sexual/physical abuse).
1997 to 2015, Marcia and her husband maintained two dental practices, as Directors. After 2015 to present, she and her husband continue being owner/director of one of the dental practices, in Alston, Cumbria.
In 2017, Marcia became a Board member of Tullie House Museum, Carlisle.
From 2019 – 20, Marcia was High Sheriff of Cumbria.
In 2020, Marcia joined the Cumbria Victims Charity Trust Board, the Cumbria Community Foundation Board, the Multicultural Cumbria Board (until 2023), the Cumbria Opera Company and the Grassmere Sports Board. She is the founder and co-chair of Cumbria Race Equality Network. And became the Patron for the British Energy Coast Business Cluster (until 2023) and AWAZ. In 2021, Marcia joined the Carlisle Cathedral Development Trust and Co-Chair of Carlisle Culture.
Also in 2020, Marcia became a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria.
In 2022, Marcia became a University of Cumbria Honorary Fellow.
Marcia is an advocate of/for racial equity and equality principles. She has been a public speaker (on a variety of subjects) for many years.
