The Marshall University Board of Governors unanimously voted Wednesday to extend Brad Smith’s tenure as university president through 2029.
Smith was executive chairman of software company Intuit’s board of directors before he was hired to lead Marshall in January 2022.
In his report to the board, Smith said that Marshall’s spring enrollment was up by more than 10 percent over last spring, and said fall enrollment numbers were equally encouraging.
In a press release, board chairman Geoff Sheils said they are grateful for Smith’s commitment and dedication to the university.
“Marshall, under President Smith’s leadership, has achieved a remarkable reversal of a 13-year trend of annual enrollment decline, as this upcoming school year will mark the third consecutive year of annual enrollment growth,” Sheils said.
Smith graduated from Marshall in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is the first alumnus in the university’s 186-year history to serve as its president.
“We’ve built meaningful momentum as a campus community, and I couldn’t be more optimistic about the road ahead,” Smith said. Marshall’s best days are in front of us, and I remain fully committed to advancing our bold vision through Marshall For All, Marshall Forever — ensuring access, opportunity and lasting impact for generations to come.”
