Marshall University President Brad D. Smith today announced that Brandon Dennison, founder and CEO of Coalfield Development, will join Marshall as vice president of economic and workforce development, effective July 1, 2023.
The new post is part of Smith’s goal to position the university as a prosperity platform for West Virginia and beyond.
“Marshall has many expert departments with dedicated staff working to make a positive impact in our communities, so we are excited to have someone with Brandon’s vision and leadership to help us further grow our collective impact,” Smith said. “I cannot think of a better person to lead this team than Brandon. As a nationally renowned social enterprise expert and a son of southern West Virginia, he brings his unparalleled passion, intense energy and knowledge of Appalachia to this post. We are thrilled that he is joining our Marshall community.”
Dennison is the founder and CEO of Coalfield Development and will remain as Coalfield Development’s executive president, where he will still work with the team to develop and implement overall long-term strategy for the nonprofit.
He will help select and train a new CEO this fall.… Read More
Marshall University President Brad D. Smith today announced that Dr. David Gozal, a pediatric pulmonologist and world-renowned pediatric sleep expert, has been named the incoming dean and vice president for health affairs at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
The selection of Gozal is the culmination of a six-month national search.
Smith said he is grateful for the search committee’s diligent work through the extensive process.
“The goal was to identify a leader devoted to research and academic excellence, experienced in the complex and evolving world of academic medicine financials, and committed to a positive culture of collaboration and service,” Smith said. “The selection of Dr. Gozal brings a proven leader to our campus who has succeeded in each of these areas.
Beth L. Hammers, Chief Executive Officer of Marshall Health, the faculty practice plan of the school of medicine, said Gozal’s appointment comes at a momentous time in the evolution of the school.
“As Marshall and our community health care partners move toward a more comprehensive clinical integration, the new dean must have a solid grasp of the workings of a true academic health system,” Hammers said. “Dr. Gozal has extensive experience in academic medicine and an understanding of the complexities that will help guide our institution forward.”… Read More
Dr. Jerry Ross has been appointed as Marshall University’s new chief enrollment officer and vice president of enrollment management, starting from July 3.
Ross will lead and direct the university’s enrollment management efforts, which include student success, financial aid, admissions, and recruitment. His role will involve providing strategic guidance and leadership in these areas.
“We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished leader to Marshall University, ” said Dr. Avi Mukherjee, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “The new appointee’s impressive background in enrollment management, online education, and student success makes him well-suited to achieve our strategic enrollment goals and attract and retain a diverse and talented student body.”
Ross has nearly 20 years of experience in enrollment management, having worked at various institutions such as Purdue University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida, West Virginia University, and Southern Miss. He currently serves as the associate vice president for enrollment management at California State University, Chico.
At CSU Chico, his leadership was instrumental in modernizing enrollment management and increasing enrollment while building strategic enrollment management plans. With a focus on improving each stage of the admission funnel, the appointee has achieved three straight admission cycles of increased new student enrollment and improved retention.
Ross expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the university’s enrollment management efforts.… Read More
Eight Marshall University students participated last month in the world’s largest international cyber defense exercise, run virtually by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. The students traveled to Morgantown to partner with the U.S. Blue Team for the exercise, hosted by the West Virginia National Guard, under the leadership of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
This was the second year that Marshall participated, along with students from West Virginia University, West Virginia Tech, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Maryland Global Campus. They joined 180 cyber experts and representatives from federal and state agencies taking on the role of a national cyber rapid reaction team deployed to assist the country in handling a large-scale cyber incident.
“In this exercise, our students get to team up with top-notch pros for a hands-on learning experience we cannot teach in the classroom,” said Bill Gardner, interim chair and undergraduate program director for cyber forensics and security.
The team was one of 24 Blue Teams from 28 countries joining in the friendly cyber competition in which they demonstrated their skills in reporting incidents, executing strategic decisions and solving forensic, legal and media challenges. Teams were graded on how well they protected their networks while following gameplay engagement rules.
Marshall students who participated included Jack McFee, A.J. Clark, Ethan Endes, Sam Adkins, Ezekiel Bennet, Emma Meadows, Hannah Carrol, and Jaslin Giron. All are students in Marshall’s Cyber Forensics & Security Program.
“We’re extremely grateful to the West Virginia… Read More
The Marshall University Department of History will present the 2023 Charles Hill Moffat Lecture featuring Dr. Leslie Heaphy, associate professor of history at Kent State University at Stark.
The lecture, “A Journey through the Negro Leagues,” will take place Tuesday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Shawkey Dining Room of the Memorial Student Center.
Heaphy is also the president of the board of the International Women’s Baseball Center, and vice president for the Society of American Baseball Research and chair of their Women in Baseball Committee. Her lecture will examine the origin of the Negro Leagues, what the leagues were like and why they disappeared.
The Negro Leagues’ journey began in the 19th century and lasted into the 1960s. Heaphy will lecture about key events in the leagues and the names that make the Negro Leagues important: Sol White, Rube Foster, Effa Manley, Jackie Robinson and Mule Suttles.
Dr. Kat Williams, Marshall professor of sport history, says Heaphy’s knowledge of the Negro Leagues is important to the history of baseball.
“Dr. Heaphy is a foremost authority on the history of the Negro Leagues, including the women who played in the leagues,” Williams said.
Heaphy is also editor of the only journal devoted to the history of Black baseball published bi-annually, Black Ball. She was a member of the selection committee of Negro Leaguers to the National Baseball Hall of Fame from 2006 to 2021.… Read More
Engineering students from universities throughout West Virginia and Virginia will be in Huntington April 13-15 as Marshall University’s Department of Civil Engineering hosts the 2023 Virginias ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Student Symposium.
More than 220 students and 50 judges will be participating in events related to civil engineering, including two hallmark competitions that members of the public are invited to observe — the Concrete Canoe competition on Friday, April 14, at Beech Fork Marina and the Steel Bridge competition on Saturday, April 15, at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium concourse.
For the concrete canoe competition, student teams must design and construct their canoes at their home schools and bring the canoes with them to the symposium, where they participate in a series of races in the canoes at Beech Fork, along with giving a technical presentation. The races go on from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14 at Beech Fork Marina in Lavalette.
“For the steel bridge contest, students from each school design and fabricate their bridge to contest specifications before arriving on campus,” said James Queen, Marshall’s ASCE student chapter president, who leads the group with Alaine Rutherford, student chapter vice president. “When everyone arrives on campus, we have a timed bridge assembly event and then a load testing event to make sure it will hold the requisite weight before it breaks.”
The Steel Bridge contest goes on from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium Concourse.… Read More
Marshall University will host its annual Student Research and Creativity Symposium on April 7 and 8 on its Huntington campus. The event is aimed at showcasing undergraduate and graduate student work across the university, while hosting high caliber guest speakers from across the United States.
The goal of the symposium is intended to showcase student work, contribute to the growth of Marshall as a research university, and show how student accomplishments can have an impact on the economy and quality of life of the surrounding intellectual and business community. A total of 118 oral presentations, poster sessions and artistic performances will be held.
The symposium’s list of guest speakers includes the following presenters, who will speak in the Memorial Student Center in the Don Morris Room. All guest speaker presentations are free and open to the public.
Friday, April 7
8:30-9:30 a.m. – Dr. Stephen Baylin, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins – “Origins and Functions of Abnormal DNA Methylation and Chromatin in Cancer” 12:15-1:30 p.m. – Dr. Jean Watson, founder and director of the Watson Caring Science Institute – “Caring Science and Transpersonal caring theory: Guide to education, practice, research leadership” 3:45-4:45 p.m. – Dr. Linda T. Parsons, associate professor at The Ohio State University and Dr. Lisa Pinkerton, assistant clinical professor at The Ohio State University – “The Synergy of Artistic and Traditional Research Methodologies: A Conversation” Saturday, April 8… Read More
Marshall University’s School of Theatre and Dance will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at 7:30 p.m. nightly Wednesday, April 12 through Saturday, April 15, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 16, in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.
The musical comedy, with a book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn (which was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss), was the winner of both Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book. It tells the story of quirky middle schoolers competing in a spelling bee championship, with some laughs from the grown-ups involved as well. The competitors spell their way through the show, and a few audience members get a chance to demonstrate their spelling chops as well.
Directed by Theatre Professor Jack Cirillo, the show’s cast includes George Kinley, Sierra Lutz, Gavin Spiewak, Noah Richie, Jaden Babbit, Nikki Riniti, Rachelle Snyder, Jacob Cremeans and Jimi Lee.
“It’s a hilarious, touching, sometimes irreverent and crowd-pleasing musical, complete with audience participation,” said Samuel Kincaid, box office and public relations manager for the School of Theatre. “ ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ is amongst the first true classics of 21st century American musical theatre.”
Tickets are free for Marshall students with their MU IDs, $20 general admission, and $15 for employees and seniors age 60 and older. For tickets or additional information, call 304-696-ARTS.… Read More
Dr. Rachael Peckham, professor of English at Marshall University, has been selected as the university’s Dr. Charles E. Hedrick Outstanding Faculty Award winner for 2022-2023.
Peckham will receive $5,000 through a grant from Charles B. and Mary Jo Locke Hedrick. The award is named in honor of Charles Hedrick’s father, Charles E. Hedrick, a former history professor and later chair of the Graduate Council, and one of the founders of Marshall’s graduate program.
Marshall’s Center for Teaching and Learning today announced the Hedrick Award and three others honoring five faculty members. They are:
Marshall & Shirley Reynolds Outstanding Teacher Award: Dr. Jill Treftz, an associate professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts.
Pickens-Queen Teacher Award: Dr. Timothy Bryan, assistant professor of accounting and legal environment, Lewis College of Business; Dr. Mehdi Esmaeilpour, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences; Dr. Megan Marshall, assistant professor of English, College of Liberal Arts. The Council of Chairs Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Laura Stapleton, instructor of mathematics, College of Science. Here is a look at the awards and the winners:
Charles E. Hedrick Outstanding Faculty Award
This award recognizes a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has a minimum of seven years teaching experience at Marshall and has a record of outstanding classroom teaching, scholarship, research and creative activities.… Read More
Mary-Louise Risher, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has received a $388,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how binge drinking during teens and early twenties disrupts brain function that can persist into adulthood.
During the two-year grant, Risher will explore how binge drinking influences communication between neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Non-neuronal cells called astrocytes are critical in helping regulate neuronal function and emotion, motivation and memory. Astrocytes and neurons work together and, through continuous crosstalk, help maintain a healthy brain. When astrocyte-neuronal crosstalk is disrupted by repeated binge alcohol exposure, it interferes with normal cognition and these effects can persist into adulthood. The new grant will allow Risher and her team to identify the mechanisms that drive these changes and identify novel targets and treatments for the prevention and reversal of long-term alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction.
“Binge drinking accounts for the majority of alcohol consumed by adolescents in the U.S. and occurs during a critical period of brain development,” Risher said. “It is also associated with lasting cognitive impairment and increases the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder later in life. Our long-term goal is to understand what happens when brain development and alcohol use converge—disrupting the final stages of brain development—and how this can lead to cognitive impairment and increased prevalence of alcohol use disorder later in life.”… Read More
Marshall University has announced the appointment of Dr. Maria P. Gindhart as dean of the College of Arts and Media and Dr. Rob Quicke as the director of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, effective July 3, 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gindhart and Dr. Quicke to Marshall University,” said Dr. Avi Mukherjee, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “Their expertise and leadership will be invaluable in advancing the mission of the College of Arts and Media and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and we are excited to see the innovative and dynamic programs they will develop for our students.”
Gindhart joins Marshall University from Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, where she has served as associate dean of the College of the Arts since October 2016. Before this, she was the associate director of the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design. Gindhart is passionate about curricular innovation and student success. She has cowritten a successful grant to fund WomenLead in the Arts, a professional signature experience class at GSU. She received her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania and her bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in Maine.
As the new dean of the College of Arts and Media, Gindhart will oversee a vibrant community of artists and scholars across disciplines, including art, music, theatre, journalism and film.… Read More
Marshall University’s annual SCORES (Scholastic Competition of Recognizing Educational Success) academic festival brought more than 1200 students from 27 high schools to Marshall’s Huntington campus Friday, March 31.
“SCORES is a wonderful event that brings high-achieving students to campus to interact with our faculty and staff,” said Michelle Biggs, director of Marshall’s Herd Academy and event organizer. “It is a great opportunity for high school students to experience Marshall’s campus and to hopefully be able to see themselves here as a Marshall student.”
Students competed in 94 different academic events throughout the day in more than 40 different subjects. In addition, to the on-campus competitions, students had the opportunity to participate in 24 pre-submitted events.
“For many high school students, SCORES might be their first opportunity to visit a college campus and we hope that we have provided a positive, memorable experience for them,” said Dr. Sherri Stepp, associate dean of undergraduate studies at Marshall.
Participants competed in classrooms and facilities across campus. In between events, students had the opportunity to enjoy lunch in Marshall’s dining facilities and learn about the academic and social programs Marshall has to offer. The event wrapped up with an awards ceremony in Marshall’s basketball arena, the Cam Henderson Center.… Read More
