He earned his bachelor's degree in architecture at this same university, in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (EA-UFMG), in 1982, and a master's in architecture from the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo, in 1991. He has recently begun his doctoral study at the College of Design, North Carolina State University (NCSU). The main focus of Marcelo's career is research and education. He aims at making Brazil a more inclusive society for people with disabilities.