Marshall Shulman was a scholar of Soviet studies who studied at the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and the Columbia University’s Russian Institute. Shulman was the first director of the W. Averill Harriman Institute for Advanced Study of International Relations at Columbia University.

Shulman was also an Adlai Stevenson Professor Emeritus of International Relations. The author of numerous books and articles on Soviet foreign and military policy, Professor Shulman served as a special advisor with the rank of ambassador to the Secretary of State for Soviet Affairs from 1977-80.