List of presidents and principals of Marshall University explained

Post:	President
Body:	Marshall University
Incumbent:	Brad D. Smith
Incumbentsince:	2022
Appointer:	Marshall University Board of Governors
Formation:	1837 (principal) 1896 (president)
First:	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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marshall University Principals and Presidents. Marshall University. July 26, 2024.
2. Lewis, Virgil A."A history of Marshall Academy, Marshall College and Marshall College State Normal School." Marshall University. December 20, 2006
3. Web site: Becoming A Real College: 1910–1929 . March 3, 2008 . January 7, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011025/http://www.marshall.edu/muhistory/REAL/REAL.asp . dead .
4. Web site: A University at Last: 1960–1969 . March 3, 2008 . March 11, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080311011310/http://www.marshall.edu/muhistory/UNI/59.asp . dead .
5. Web site: Clark, James Beauchamp (Champ) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . United States Congress . July 26, 2024.
6. Web site: Donald Newton Dedmon. www.marshall.edu. July 30, 2024. 2017-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405223743/http://www.marshall.edu/special-collections/presidents/dedmon.asp. dead.
7. Web site: DALE FREDERICK NITZSCHKE - THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT, 1984-1990. www.marshall.edu . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150228005259/http://www.marshall.edu/special-collections/presidents/nitzschke.asp . 2015-02-28. July 30, 2024.
8. Web site: Alumni Bios - Dan Angel. . July 26, 2024.
9. News: Marshall University President Kopp dies. The Herald-Dispatch. December 17, 2014. July 26, 2024.
10. Web site: Marshall announces Dr. Jerome Gilbert as 37th president. 20 October 2015. July 26, 2024.
11. Web site: Brad Smith selected as next president of Marshall University. WV Metro News. en. 2021-10-28. July 26, 2024.