List of presidents and principals of Marshall University

President of Marshall University
Incumbent Brad D. Smith since 2022
Appointer	Marshall University Board of Governors
Formation	1837 (principal) 1896 (president)
First holder	Issac N. Peck (principal) Lawrence J. Corbley (president)
Website	Office of the President

This list of presidents and principals of Marshall University includes all who have served as principals or presidents of Marshall University since its founding in 1837. ^[1] Marshall University is a public research university in Huntington, West Virginia. The university was originally known as Marshall Academy. ^[2] In 1858, the Virginia General Assembly changed the name to Marshall College, ^[3] On March 2, 1961, West Virginia Legislature elevated the college to university status, thus becoming Marshall University. ^[4]

Principals

Academy Years (1837–1867)

• Isaac N. Peck, 1837–1839
• Jacob H. Patton, 1839–1840
• Alfred E. Thom, 1840–1843
• Josiah B. Poage, 1843–1850
• Henry Clark, 1850
• Joseph Foster, 1850
• William B. McFarland, 1850–1853
• Staunton V. Field, 1853–1854
• William R. Boyers, 1854–1858
• Benjamin H. Thackston, 1858–1861
• Rev. J. M. Brown, 1861
• Daniel W. Thrush, 1861
• Salina C. Hite Mason, 1863–1867

College Years (1867–1896)

• Samuel R. Thompson, 1868–1871
• John Ball Powell, 1871–1872
• James Elmore Morrow, 1872–1873
• James Beauchamp Clark, 1873–1874 ^[5]
• Alonzo Decatur Chesterman, 1874–1881
• Benjamin Hudson Thackston, 1881–1884
• William Joseph Kenny, Sr., 1884–1886
• Thomas Edward Hodges, 1886–1896

Presidents

College Years (1896–1961)

• Lawrence Jugurtha Corbley, 1896–1915
• Oscar Israel Woodley, 1915–1919
• Frederic Rutherford Hamilton, 1919–1923
• Morris Purdy Shawkey, 1923–1935
• James Edwards Allen, 1935–1942
• John Davis Williams, 1942–1946
• Stewart Harold Smith, 1946–1961

University Years (1961-present)

• Stewart Harold Smith, 1961–1968
• Roland Hill Nelson Jr., 1968–1970
• Donald Dedmon, 1970–1971 ^[6]
• John Grove Barker, 1971–1974
• Robert Bruce Hayes, 1974–1983
• Sam Edward Clagg, 1984
• Dale F. Nitzschke, 1984–1990 ^[7]
• Alan Brant Gould, 1990–1991
• J. Wade Gilley, 1991–1999
• Audy Michael Perry, 1999–2000
• Daniel Angel, 2000–2005 ^[8]
• Michael Joseph Ferrell, 2005
• Stephen J. Kopp, 2005–2014 ^[9]
• Gary G. White, 2014 – Jan 2016
• Jerome A. Gilbert, 2016–2021 ^[10]
• Brad D. Smith, 2021 – present ^[11]

References

1. "Marshall University Principals and Presidents". Marshall University . Retrieved July 26, 2024.
2. Lewis, Virgil A."A history of Marshall Academy, Marshall College and Marshall College State Normal School." Archived July 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Marshall University. December 20, 2006
3. "Becoming A Real College: 1910–1929". Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
4. "A University at Last: 1960–1969". Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
5. "Clark, James Beauchamp (Champ)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
6. "Donald Newton Dedmon". www.marshall.edu. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
7. "DALE FREDERICK NITZSCHKE - THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT, 1984-1990". www.marshall.edu. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
8. "Alumni Bios - Dan Angel". Purdue University . Retrieved July 26, 2024.
9. "Marshall University President Kopp dies". The Herald-Dispatch . December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
10. "Marshall announces Dr. Jerome Gilbert as 37th president". October 20, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
11. "Brad Smith selected as next president of Marshall University". WV Metro News. October 28, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2024.