Highlighting his role as grand marshal, Chrest will lead the Homecoming parade at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. The parade is part of a full week of activities for this year’s Homecoming, “’80s Echoes: Come Back Curious.” The theme honors Chrest’s years at Marshall and draws inspiration from the nostalgic world of 1980s mysteries, as often referenced in “Stranger Things.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe back to campus to serve as our Homecoming grand marshal,” said Walker Tatum, director of alumni engagement. “We believe Joe embodies the spirit of Marshall through his accomplishments, humility and continued love for his alma mater. We cannot wait to celebrate him this fall, and we’re equally excited to recognize him with a theme that marks his time at Marshall in the 1980s while praising his accomplishments through a series influenced by the pop culture of the era.”
Chrest, a native of St. Albans, West Virginia, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing from Marshall, and a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University.
Along with Chrest’s role as Ted Wheeler in “Stranger Things,” he has appeared in major films including “21 Jump Street,” “22 Jump Street,” “Ant-Man” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” along with dozens of other television and film productions.
In addition to Chrest’s work as an actor, he is also an adjunct professor at the School of Theatre in Louisiana State’s College of Music and Dramatic Arts.
Chrest will participate in other events on and around campus leading up to the Homecoming football game against Gardner-Webb University on Saturday, Sept. 26. Other highlights of Homecoming week include the Unity Walk on Monday, Sept. 21, and the Marshall University Alumni Association and Marshall University Black Alumni’s tailgate on Sept. 26.