Dancing with the Herd

Brad D. Smith became president of Marshall University in January 2022 after a globally recognized career in leadership and philanthropy. Formerly CEO and executive chairman of Intuit, Brad co-founded the Wing 2 Wing Foundation with his wife, Alys, to support education and entrepreneurship in Appalachia. The foundation’s Ascend WV program recruits remote workers to West Virginia. A Marshall alumnus with a bachelor’s in business administration, Brad is committed to empowering future leaders. A proud “boy from Kenova,” Brad champions opportunities for his home state and its people.

Alys Smith is co-founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation and First Lady of Marshall University. She leads initiatives that expand educational access, support entrepreneurship, and promote the natural beauty of Appalachia. Alys is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment and founded the annual Women Warriors Summit to help women navigate challenges and lead with confidence. A licensed attorney and certified mediator, she represents children in abuse and neglect cases and has held legal roles across several states. She serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is dedicated to creating opportunity through service, education, and leadership.

A true collaborator at heart, H. Toney Stroud serves as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Relations. His department encompasses more than 80+ employees and converges external affairs with policy and economic development to maximize Marshall’s efforts to grow Appalachia. An accomplished attorney with more than 24 years of experience, Toney also serves as Marshall University’s Chief Legal Officer and manages the institution’s legal department. Prior to joining Marshall University, Stroud was an assistant vice president at Encova Insurance, managing outside counsel in 28 states, providing legal support for the company’s human resources team and advising on legislative and government relations matters. Prior to Encova, he was a member at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC from 1998- 2013. Toney is truly passionate about West Virginia and is always giving back. He is involved in leadership posts across West Virginia, including currently serving on the boards of the Education Alliance, Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO), Advantage Valley (Chair), Leadership West Virginia (Vice- Chair), River Cities United Way, Huntington Municipal Development Authority, Huntington Tri-State Airport, West Virginia-Ireland Commission (Chair). Stroud earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marshall. He is an avid runner, having completed 30+ marathons. He and his wife, Cassie, are active in their church, enjoy attending Marshall events and live in Ona, WV. Toney and Cassie have two children, Christina and Kaylie.

Cassie L. Stroud, M.A., CCC-SLP, received her B.A. and M.A. in Communication Disorders from Marshall University, graduating as a Marshall Alumni in May 2001. She has clinical experience working as a therapist serving primarily birth to 18 population working for the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center, serving in WVBTT and working in private practice. Upon relocating to Ohio for Toney’s new position as managing partner with Steptoe & Johnson, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where she and her husband, Toney became certified foster parents due to the desire to help one of her clients served professionally. It was through providing respite care to children in foster placement that Toney and she met their now adopted daughters, Christina (25) and Kaylie (18). She and Toney completed their family as mother and father to their daughters in 2011, after a long year of adoption process. Cassie and Toney decided to relocate back to West Virginia to be close to family and friends while raising their daughters. She continued her career at Cabell County Schools for 11 years and is now providing virtual therapy services with Connect Teletherapy in ND and part-time serving clients with Milestones Physical Therapy in their Huntington office. Cassie enjoys playing the piano, attending and serving in their children’s department at First Baptist Church in Hurricane and volunteers with their church community outreach, ReCess, which hosts monthly activities for children with special needs. She enjoys reading to learn, spending time with family and friends, and going on date nights with Toney. She has no experience dancing, but is nervous, yet excited for the opportunity to have a good evening taking herself lightly and enjoying her fellow Herd fans in an evening of fun.

Lisa Harrison is a proud graduate of Austin Peay State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications. Passionate about learning and personal growth, she went on to obtain two master’s degrees-one in Exercise Science and another in Secondary Education. After discovering her true calling in helping others, Lisa pursued and completed a third master’s degree in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. Lisa is a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Nu Kappa Omega Chapter in Clarksville, Tennessee. Beyond her professional and academic achievements, she finds joy in working out, spending quality time with her two daughters, Torri and Lorri, and being a loving, supportive wife.

Gerald Harrison is just three months into his role as Director of Athletics at Marshall University – and he’s already bringing his signature energy, passion, and people-first approach to the Herd. With more than 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics, Gerald has built a career around creating programs that prioritize the whole student-athlete – emphasizing academic excellence, leadership, and preparation for life beyond the game.

A proud advocate for inclusion and opportunity, Gerald is especially passionate about supporting women’s initiatives and elevating the student-athlete experience across campus. He and his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters Lori and Tori are thrilled to call Huntington home and are excited to be part of the Marshall family.

Tonight, they’re trading in the sidelines for the spotlight as they take the dance floor to raise funds for women’s initiatives at Marshall – proving that true leaders don’t just talk about making a difference, they dance for it.

Dr. Shawn Schulenberg is Professor of Political Science at Marshall University, where he has taught since 2010, the same year he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. He serves as Chair of the Faculty Senate and Co-Chair of the Presidential AI Task Force. He was the 2012 Junior Recipient of the Marshall University Distinguished Artists and Scholars Award (DASA). He has also served as Chair of the Department of Political Science, Director of the Sexuality Studies Program, Chair of the LGBT Caucus of the American Political Science Association, and Co-Chair of the Sexuality Studies Section in the Latin American Studies Association. He is the coauthor of The Politics of Perverts (NYU Press, 2024). Over a decade ago, he created the KIIS Argentina summer study abroad program and has led students there every year since, describing it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.

Mr. Ariel Barcenas is co-owner and Executive Chef of Nomada Bakery, named USA Today’s #1 Cake Shop in America (2025). Originally from Panama City, Panama, he studied film in Buenos Aires before moving to West Virginia in 2014, where he taught himself how to bake and design cakes. He opened Nomada in 2019 at Heritage Station and has since built a regional following for combining traditional desserts with Latin-inspired flavors. At Nomada, he blends aesthetics and flavor with precision, creating desserts that are as visually striking as they are memorable. Beyond the bakery, Ariel teaches dough and pastry classes at Mountwest Community and Technical College and serves on the Board of Huntington Pride.