Marilyn-Lu earned a BSN from Keuka College, an MA in Nursing Education with a specialty in Rehabilitation Nursing from Teachers College, Columbia University and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Education from Texas A&M University. She received a Professional Achievement Award from Keuka College in 1983, and was nominated for Nurse Practitioner of the Year in 2000. She holds national board certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, as well as in Rehabilitation Nursing and has been certified as a Continence Care Nurse.