Marshall Magazine, Spring 2023

Celebrating the legacy of Dr. Simon Perry

Major Changes in the Athletic Department Students Going Back Abroad

Dr. Cicero Fain

Meet the author of “Black Huntington: An Appalachian Story” whose mission is to promote diversity and inclusion at Marshall.

See page 40 for ALUMNI NEWS and more

Spring 2023 | www.marshall.edu

President Brad D. Smith Executive Editor Susan Tams

The official magazine of Marshall University

m a g a z i n e

Spring 2023

Director of Communications Leah Payne Publisher Jack Houvouras Office Manager Dana Keaton

Contents

Art Director Katie Sigler

6 COVER STORY : Dr. Cicero Fain is a professor and author who is on a mission to promote diversity and inclusion at Marshall.

Senior Graphic Designer Suzanna Stephens

10 ATHLETICS : In just one year Athletic Director Christian Spears has overseen major upgrades to the Marshall’s athletic facilities and programs.

Contributing Photographers Brock Burwell, Rick Lee, Morgan Napier, Darshan Sangani, Walker Tatum, Amy Parsons-White

16 SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS : Under the leadership of Amy Parsons-White, Marshall has become a global leader in “going green.”

Contributing Writers James E. Casto, Keith Morehouse, Katherine Pyles, Shelly Ridgeway, Carter Seaton

24 STUDY ABROAD : A pandemic may have put the world on hold for two years, but today students are lining up to study abroad.

­Editorial Advisory Board Michelle Biggs, William “Tootie” Carter, Larry Crum, Karen McComas, Sheanna Spence, Susan Tams

30 HAL GREER CORRIDOR : Work has begun on a project that will make Hal Greer Boulevard safer and more aesthetically pleasing.

36 MARSHALL LEGEND : Remembering the life of Dr. Simon Perry, a venerated professor and political science icon who died at age 92.

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everGreen

YOUR ALUMNI CONNECTION

40 Letter from Mikala Shremshock, MUAA President

Marshall Magazine is distributed three times a year by: Marshall University One John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755 ADVERTISERS’ CONTACT: HQ Publishing Co. P.O. Box 384 Huntington, WV 25708 304-529-6158 mail@marshallmagazine.com For subscription information contact: MU Office of Alumni Relations at 304-696-3134 Comments or suggestions should be addressed to: magazine@marshall.edu

41 Class Notes 42 In Memoriam 44 Spotlight

Designed & Published by:

46 Thank A Donor Days 49 48th Alumni Awards Banquet Invitation 50 Breaking News: Homecoming 2023 51 Letter From MUAA

Dr. Cicero Fain III, the university’s inaugural Assistant Provost of Inclusive on the cover Meet Excellence and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fellow. Photo by Rick Lee.

HQ Publishing Co. P.O. Box 384 Huntington, WV 304-529-6158 www.hqpublishing.com © 2023 by Marshall University

p r e s i d e n t

Catching up with President Smith President Smith’s official investiture took place on the Morrow Library lawn Sept. 16.

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1. President Brad D. Smith makes his way to the stage accompanied by his wife, Alys, and representatives of faculty, staff and students.

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2. Smith is officially sworn in by the chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker (left). At right is Patrick Farrell, chairman of Marshall’s Board of Governors.

3. Smith poses with a gift from the athletic department, a game-worn jersey from the Herd’s win over Notre Dame Sept. 10.

4. Smith poses with his quoits partner, H. Toney Stroud, Marshall’s chief legal officer and general counsel (second from left) and their competitors from the Marshall Recreation Center at the presidential quoits tournament Sept. 23.

5. President Smith speaks at the annual Memorial Service Nov. 14, his first since taking office.

6. First Lady Alys Smith and President Smith flip the switch to light the holiday tree at Herd Holiday Nov. 29. Looking on are this year’s Mr. Marshall, Calvin Hunter, and Miss Marshall, Nevaeh Harmon.

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cover story

Dr. Cicero Fain 111 Dr. Cicero Fain III Meet the professor, assistant provost and author of Black Huntington: An Appalachian Story, whose mission is to promote diversity and inclusion at Marshall.

By Shelly Ridgeway 6

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“

Both Huntington’s and West Virginia’s Black history [are] incredibly rich and unique in the American narrative and deserve to be elevated to a place of prominence.”

— Dr. Cicero Fain III

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r. Cicero Fain has spent the greater part of the for Pan Am, Kabo Air and USAfrica Airways,” Fain said. past 20 years delving into the history of Black “No place spoke to me the way Africa did.”

Huntingtonians and Appalachians. Inspired by Following his time with several international airline the many stories he heard from locals while growing up carriers, Fain returned to his studies and completed his with his three siblings near Huntington’s Southside and bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism at Fairfield West neighborhoods, his passion for storytellthe University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1983. ing eventually led to opportunities to travel the globe He would go on to earn his master’s degree in educaand bear witness to other cultures, including parts of the tion from George Mason University. He also enrolled at African continent.

The Ohio State University, where he earned a second Fain began his college studies master’s degree in history and at Marshall University in 1976 as a Ph.D. in history, focusing a political science and journalism on African American history, major. While there, he served Modern African history and as a staff writer for the student Native American history. In newspaper, The Parthenon, and 2021, after spending the past seemed destined to share stories 10 years teaching at the College about people who were relaof Southern Maryland, Fain tively unknown, marginalized was beckoned to return to his or forgotten. hometown of Huntington.

By his junior year at Marshall, Talk about coming full cira young Cicero Fain left college cle in returning to one’s roots. for what he said was a onceHe was selected for Marshall’s in-a-lifetime opportunity with prestigious Carter G. Woodson Pan American World Airways Fellowship in 2000, which pro(aka Pan Am) to see the world vided full financial support for through a different lens as a his graduate studies at OSU, and flight attendant and purser. later joined Marshall’s teaching It proved to be a transformafaculty as an instructor and astive experience and served as a sociate professor in the history springboard to work for other department. airlines that carried him to farTo d a y , a s M a r s h a l l away places.

University’s inaugural Assistant “Every place we went was an Provost of Inclusive Excellence adventure for me. I think I visand Diversity, Equity and Dr. Cicero Fain’s latest book chronicles the rich history of ited 35 countries while working Inclusion Fellow, Fain is well Huntington’s Black community from 1871 to 1929.

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“

Marshall University is a public university that recognizes the importance of diversity and how it enriches the educational experience. Students are exposed to differing ideas, perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and cultures.”

— Dr. Cicero Fain III

of Huntington’s Black community from 1871 to 1929, taking readers on a journey through time to learn about the many challenges and successes that Black people faced as new and generational community members. It is important to remember that Huntington was formed six years after the end of the Civil War. Life for the Black community at that time was filled with uncertainty.

Many had traveled from plantations, where they were enslaved, to begin a new way of life.

In sharing his research tactics for the book, Fain said that the historical fact-gathering required some unconventional methods, such as interviewing people and collecting oral testimonies.

“You can’t rely on traditional methods like you would with a white population, because they (white people) have always had multiple ways to validate their existence,” he said.

With this year’s Black History Month celebrations and tributes in the rearview mirror, Fain is intently focused on what lies ahead.

“Both Huntington’s and West Virginia’s Black history [are] incredibly rich and unique in the American narrative and deserve to be elevated to a place of prominence beyond activities, ceremonies and events celebrating Black History Month,” he said.

Fain said that today the study of Black history faces new obstacles.

“Numerous schools and colleges across America are being impacted by efforts to curtail or ban the types of courses being taught here at Marshall,” he noted.

Some may question the importance of learning about Huntington’s Black history or advancing diversity, equity

positioned to build upon the university’s commitment to be a welcoming, diversely populated and inclusive institution. Prior to being named to this current role, Fain was serving a two-year appointment as the inaugural Visiting Diversity Scholar.

A typical day for Fain includes meeting with colleagues, both in person and via video conference calls, from across the university spectrum. They use that time to discuss, strategize and collaborate on a variety of initiatives.

In addition to tending to his classroom teaching duties, Fain has broader ideas that require him to continually seek ways to engage and partner with business leaders and community members. He is currently working to garner support to create a regional African American heritage tourism sector with Huntington as its primary hub — there is no comprehensive center in the state of West Virginia that acknowledges the wide range of contributions among its Black residents.

“The biggest challenge I see is educating both Blacks and whites on the importance of Huntington’s Black history as an exemplar of Black strivings, achievement and success beyond just celebrating Carter G. Woodson,” Fain said.

Fain’s latest book, Black Huntington: An Dr. Cicero Fain speaks at the “From the Valley to the Mountaintop: Hip Hop in Appalachian Story, chronicles the rich history Appalachia” panel held at Marshall on Feb. 16, 2023.

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Dr. Cicero Fain sits next to the statue of Dr. Carter G. Woodson in Huntington's Fairfield West community. Woodson founded Black History Month in 1926. Fain’s book, “Black Huntington: An Appalachian Story,” examines the impact of numerous Black leaders in the city’s formation.

and inclusion initiatives at Marshall University.

“It matters because Marshall University is a public university that recognizes the importance of diversity and how it enriches the educational experience,” Fain asserted. “Students are exposed to differing ideas, perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and cultures. It provides an opportunity for enlightenment that helps prepare our students to operate within a global economy.”

Locally, Fain said he is energized by what he has witnessed in the Huntington community.

“I am gratified to see so many from all walks of life committed to working together to rebuild trust, revitalize the Fairfield West community and restore cultural pride,” he said.

Ultimately, Fain said, his goal is to help build on Marshall’s strong diversity, equity and inclusion foundation.

“I see myself as an evangelist of Black history, the celebration of diversity and the importance of human dignity,” he explained. “My life experiences, my friendships and my family composition show me every day the richness and blessings of diversity and inclusion.”

Dr. Cicero Fain speaks at the Honors Convocation in 2022.

Shelly Ridgeway is a freelance writer living in Washington, D.C.

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a t h l e t i c s

NEW LOOK ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT 10

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The Marshall Athletics Senior Staff includes (from back left to right back) Chris Lapole, assistant athletic director, head athletic trainer; Ben Ashford, assistant athletic director, director of sports performance; Andrew Brown, associate athletic director for facilities and operations; Annie Cavrich, manager, Thundering Herd Sports Properties; Kaylyn Torain, assistant athletic director for academic services; Teddy Kluemper III, associate athletic director for development; Dawn Kirtner, assistant athletic director for business operations; Beatrice Crane Banford, senior associate athletic director for Olympic sports/SWA; Christian Spears, director of athletics; Debra Boughton, executive associate athletic director for championship planning and resources; Greg Beals, head coach, baseball; John Sutherland, senior associate athletic director for development and Big Green Executive Director; Arlin Vieira, special assistant to the director of athletics; Taylor Hickman, associate athletic director for capital campaigns and signature events; Rodney Kasey, assistant athletic director for digital strategy and brand management; Ryan Crisp, associate athletics director for annual giving, ticket sales and fan engagement; Cedric Prowell, assistant athletic director for equipment operations; Sean Tuttle, associate athletic director for compliance; Sharrod Everett, assistant athletic director and football chief of staff; and Grant Traylor, associate athletic director of communications

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The Cam Henderson Center sports a brand-new arena floor with that ubiquitous “M” logo at center court.

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A new baseball stadium, new baseball coach, upgrades to the football and basketball facilities, NIL money and the transfer portal. In just one year, Christian Spears and his staff have overseen major improvements and a bevy of changes at the university.

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ust north of Third Avenue, behind the Dot Hicks softball complex, there’s a lot of activity going on in the bullpen. Well, not a bullpen yet, but it’s coming.

Several excavators are pitching mounds of dirt around the site. Marshall’s long-awaited ballpark is no longer a project on paper. College baseball on Marshall’s Huntington campus is on the horizon.

“At last, the new baseball stadium is real,” said Christian Spears, the university’s energetic athletic director. “All of the people who said, ‘They’ll never do it, it won’t happen, they’ve failed for 60 years,’ — well, today earth is being moved and construction is underway.”

The doubters and naysayers have had plenty of valid reasons to be skeptical. Herd legend and longtime head coach Jack Cook — who passed away in 2021 — had attended two separate stadium groundbreakings. He infamously remembered that the administration began promising him a new ballpark back in the 1960s.

It turns out those stadium blueprints were a real enticement to lure former Ohio State baseball coach Greg Beals to Huntington to become Marshall’s next head coach.

“The bones are here, I believe that,” said Beals. “I see what’s going on across the street and I’ve got a big picture in mind. We’re going to have a brand-new ballpark; and when it opens next year, I think we can be the big show in town every March and April.”

The stadium is on target to open for the 2024 season, an ambitious timetable by any measure. Beals is willing to wait, he said, and to get to work building a program for the Thundering Herd in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt Conference. He coached the Buckeyes to three NCAA tournament appearances and knows what it takes to win

(Top) Edwards Stadium received new turf in the fall. (Bottom) Coming in 2023 is a huge Jumbotron that will fill the south end zone.

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“

At last, the new baseball stadium is real.

Today earth is being moved and construction is underway.”

— Christian Spears Marshall University Athletic Director

(Above) An aerial view shows construction underway for Marshall's new baseball stadium, which is scheduled to open for the 2024 season. (Left) The new baseball stadium helped lure Ohio State baseball coach Greg Beals to Huntington to lead the Thundering Herd.

at the highest level.

The baseball park is just one of a myriad of facility improvements around campus. Edwards Stadium has a new playing surface; and a new, much larger video display will fill the south end zone this fall. The Henderson Center sports a brand-new arena floor with that ubiquitous “M” logo at center court. Venerable Gullickson Hall and its gymnasium got a makeover worthy of an HGTV show.

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In fact, the old home of Marshall’s athletics offices and physical education classes looks better today than it has since its construction in 1961.

When Christian Spears was introduced as Marshall’s new athletic director in February 2022, his plan was to resurrect pride in the Marshall brand. He wanted to ensure the brand was represented at every facility on campus, and his template for the cosmetic transformation sounded simple enough.

“A little bit of paint, a little bit of graphic, a little bit of pride and more wins,” Spears explained. “When people feel great about their environment, the results start to turn pretty quick.”

Those results came quickly. Marshall’s win over No. 8-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend woke up the Herd’s

Hutchison said. “What hits the media headlines nationfootball echoes and is likely the most noteworthy win ally might be more prevalent in the Power 5 conferences, in school history. Marshall won nine games including but that’s certainly not what’s happening here. That said, a victory in the Myrtle Beach Bowl over UConn. The our athletes are happy to make a few hundred dollars Herd basketball team got off to its best start in 36 years to be in a commercial or to spend a few hours at a local and finished the regular season at 23-6. nonprofit organization.”

One thing Spears The NIL rules exhas noticed in less than pressly prohibit pay-fora year on campus is that play deals, but a quick Marshall fans will tell you Google search shows how they feel. When the that some schools seem new floor was laid down to be playing by their at the Henderson Center, own rules. And the bigthere was one subtle omisger the school, the bigger sion that fans — loudly the deals. and clearly — let Spears “The two things you know about. The famous can’t do is offer pay-forBruce Morris footprints play or induce recruits were gone. Those prints with money,” Spears said. marked the game-winning “Well, that’s what everyshot Morris made from one’s doing, and there’s 89 feet, 10 inches back in Under new Athletic Director Christian Spears, the men's track and field no one stopping them.

1989 against Appalachian program was resurrected at the end of 2022.

When you couple these State. Proving that he can NIL issues with the newly take a little criticism and formed transfer portal that allows athletes to transfer to advice, Spears had the footprints reaffixed to the floor. other schools without sitting out a year, you quickly see He also made the decision to put tarps over parts of how the work of college coaches just got much harder.” the stands in both Edwards Stadium and the Henderson Hutchison said he realizes NIL money doesn’t grow Center. That has reduced capacity in both venues, but on trees, and at a smaller university like Marshall there Spears reasoned the moves were necessary. At Edwards won’t be any get-rich-quick offers for athletes. In fact, Stadium, the eventual plan is for a deck and that new The Thunder Trust has partnered with several nonprofvideo display to be installed in the south end zone. As its around the Huntington area — like the A.D. Lewis for the Henderson Center, if you’ve ever trekked to the Community Center and the Facing Hunger Foodbank upper seats, you know the high anxiety it brings. Spears — to pair athletes with NIL opportunities that also give said it was the responsible call to make to keep fans away them a chance to leave a mark on the community. from those sections.

“The athletes at Marshall are not expecting exorbitant “I asked the risk manager to come look at our upperfinancial deals from NIL,” Hutchison said. “They’re happy level basketball seats and he said, ‘We sit people up here?’ to make a few hundred dollars to help supplement their That was all I needed to hear,” said Spears. “I made the day-to-day expenses, whether it’s buying winter clothes, decision to cover those seats and eliminate the risk they taking a date to dinner and a movie or paying for a plane pose to fans.” ticket to fly home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They There’s also another matter keeping athletic direcjust want to feel appreciated.” tors up at night. How do they deal with the new frontier All this keeps Christian Spears and his staff in the regarding name, image and likeness (NIL)? NIL allows athletic department quite busy. College sports is changathletes to make endorsement deals, cash in on making ing at warp speed. Luckily, that fast pace suits Spears personal appearances and profit from their athletic enjust fine. deavors. Assisting Spears in navigating these tricky waters is Huntington native Tyler Hutchison. The former Yale football player is now a certified financial planner who Keith Morehouse is a freelance writer and the sports oversees “The Thunder Trust,” Marshall’s collective credirector at WSAZ NewsChannel 3 in Huntington, West ated to help within the new realm of NIL. Virginia.

“Our students aren’t here to get rich off of NIL,”

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sustainability efforts

A GLOBAL LEADER IN GOING

GREEN

From energy management and waste reduction to a state-of-the-art commercial composting facility, Marshall is on the forefront of sustainability.

By Katherine Pyles Photo by Rick Lee

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(From left) Tracy Smith, Amy Parsons-White and Carrie Nilles pose in front of the university's new commercial composting facility — the first in the state of West Virginia and the second largest in the eastern U.S.

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The Rolling Thunder bike share program is a 24/7 transportation system for both point-to-point trips across campus and long scenic rides.

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o r M a r s h a l l Un i ve r s i t y Sustainability Manager Amy Parsons-White, M.S., there’s nothing better than seeing the (energy-efficient) lightbulb go off when people really start to “get” sustainability.

“When you see that lightbulb go off, when people begin to realize that sustainability has a positive impact not just on our environment but also on our students, our economy and our community, it’s really exciting,” said Parsons-White, who oversees sustainability programs for students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community.

People, planet, profit — “the three Ps,” as they’re often called — are what make sustainability sustainable, she said.

“People usually think of the environmental side of sustainability, but

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sustainability is actually an accounting framework,” she explained. “It’s known as the triple bottom line. Any program we start on campus has to encompass all three of those pillars.”

In other words, just because a project benefits the environment, that doesn’t make it sustainable; it has to have a positive social and financial impact, too. At Marshall,

that framework has been applied to department initiatives like recycling, utility management, trayless dining, bottle refill stations, the Rolling Thunder bike share program and an array of gardening projects: vegetable gardens, rain gardens, green roof gardens and gardens for local pollinators — even a waystation for migrating Monarch butterflies.

Recently, the three Ps came into play for the department’s largest undertaking yet: a commercial composting facility, the first in the state of West Virginia and the second largest in the eastern U.S. The project was four years in the making, said Parsons-White, whose extensive preliminary work included drafting bills with state legislators to change the laws on postconsumer food waste.

The facility is groundbreaking (literally). It turns food waste, lawn

waste, white office paper and cardboard into compost, reducing the university’s carbon footprint and saving thousands of dollars in waste haul fees. It’s home to an XACT BioReactor, an aerobic digester that takes in five tons of waste per day and completes the composting process in just six days. Marshall is the only university in the world with the digester, Parsons-White said.

Then there’s the worm bin, where 50,000 red wigglers are hard at work composting an additional three tons of waste per day. Parsons-White said students pursuing a specialty agriculture degree will use the facility as their educational laboratory; elective courses and internships will be offered as well.

The facility, which became fully operational Feb. 1, has the potential

to be a huge profit center for the university, she said. Soon, compost, worm castings and a compost tea called “Herd Dirt” will be available for purchase. Workshops, tours and a composting microcredential program, currently being developed, will be open to the community.

“We’re taking what was just going to be hauled off to a landfill and turning it into a product that we can use here on campus to make our soil better and that we can sell to make our community better,” ParsonsWhite said. “The facility has the potential to really change the dynamics of waste haul in West Virginia.”

Another trendsetter in

waste reduction is the Marshall Thrift Store, which recycles items left behind by dorm residents during moveout days. The thrift store

(Above) Marshall has an array of gardening projects, including vegetable gardens, rain gardens, green roof gardens and gardens for local pollinators — even a waystation for migrating Monarch butterflies. (Right) The Marshall Thrift Store recycles items left behind by dorm residents during moveout days. The thrift store has reduced moveout waste by 50%.

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“

Sustainability is an accounting framework ... known as the triple bottom line.”

— Amy Parsons-White, M.S. Marshall University Sustainability Manager

store opened in 2021, it has served upwards of 400 students, who on their first visit pay $3 for a reusable bag to fill with as many items as they can fit. Each return trip with the same bag is $1.

Sometimes, students pay nothing.

“We’ve had students who’ve been put out of their homes for one reason or another or arrive on campus without the necessary supplies to thrive; they come to us through Housing, the athletic department or

(Above) Marco enjoys picking fresh vegetables from one of the university’s many gardens.

(Right) Herd Dirt Compost Tea is made with worm castings and sold at The Wild Ramp.

has reduced moveout waste by an overwhelming 50%.

“Students leave an enormous quantity of things behind when they move out of campus housing,” explained Sustainability Coordinator Carrie Uihlein Nilles, M.A. “And these are things that are surprising: mini fridges, microwaves, Keurigs, name-brand televisions and monitors, not to mention all of the

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clothing.”

At the end of each semester, Housing and Residence Life and the Sustainability Department host a Green Move Out event to collect unwanted items. Nilles said while the waste reduction during these events is significant, it’s what the Marshall Thrift Store does the rest of the year that’s even more meaningful. Since the

Marco encourages a Marshall student to recycle at one of the many recycling bins found across the Huntington campus.

sometimes individual faculty members,” Nilles said. “We allow them to come in and take what they need, and we’re able to sort of give them the beginning of a rebuild to their life. That’s incredibly gratifying.”

The Sustainability Department’s shift toward the social equity and profitability aspects of sustainability has been a team effort, Parsons-White said, not only within the department but university wide. The College of Science, College of Business, Department of Social Work and Department of History have been key players in that shift, she said.

“The university is starting to see that we’re not just ‘the people that

“

We’re taking what was just going to be hauled off to a landfill and turning it into a product that we can use here on campus to make our soil better and that we can sell to make our community better. The facility has the potential to really change the dynamics of waste haul in West Virginia.”

— Amy Parsons-White, M.S. Marshall University Sustainability Manager

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pick up the recycling,’” she said.

“We’re working to make sure the university can take care of itself and thrive in the long run.”

The Sustainability Department emphasizes detailed recordkeeping and data management, ensuring each of its programs has a measurable impact. That’s where Nilles comes in. She tracks things like the output of recycling bins around campus, the number of students served by the thrift store and the thousands of pounds of paper waste sent to composting or recycling from the department’s shred room.

When Marshall converted its incandescent and fluorescent lighting to LEDs, Nilles tracked energy savings throughout the transition.

“It was astounding,” she said.

“We’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars saved just by changing lightbulbs.”

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The data makes sure the department remains sustainable as it grows, she said. And there’s a lot of growing to be done: the Sustainability Department just received grant funding to begin hydroponic gardening, and Parsons-White said the goal is for the gardens to eventually provide all of the produce on campus.

“Our dining halls will have fresh, organic food grown right here on campus. We’ll be able to offer courses and internships for business students and ag students, and anyone else who wants to come in and learn,” she said. “We’ll be developing programs that look at things like food production and social equity, while also educating students and making a profit for the university.”

She said her hope is that sustainability becomes everyone’s goal.

“On the university level, we want our students, faculty and staff

to know that these programs exist for them, and to understand that it’s not just about saving the earth — it’s also about saving money and becoming more fiscally responsible, so that the university can invest in better programs, events and activities for them,” she said. “And then just being a university in a town the size of Huntington, it’s our responsibility to be that beacon to the community as well. If we can reach out and help people in our community with sustainability projects, that’s not just making a good name for Marshall — it’s making our community better. We all benefit.”

Katherine Pyles is a freelance writer living in Huntington, West Virginia. She is a 2009 graduate of the Marshall University School of Journalism & Mass Communications.

The first students of the Aviation Maintenance Technology A.A.S. program at Marshall University are joined by James Smith, program director, and Nancy Ritter, director of the Bill Noe Flight School.

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s t u d y

a b r o a d

Study BACK! Abroad

A worldwide pandemic may have put the world on hold for two years, but today students are lining up to study abroad once again.

IS

By Carter Seaton

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After COVID, I’ve definitely noticed there’s pent-up demand for study abroad programs.”

— Tyler Sharp Associate Director of International Student Services

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trike up the pep band! Shout it from the towers of Old Main!

Study abroad has returned in full force for Marshall students.

The opportunity to study abroad had been available at the university for many decades, but that streak ended in March 2020 when the program came to a screeching halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No students traveled abroad, and the exchange programs were paused for nearly two years.

“In the fall of 2021 we started to slowly ease back into things,” noted Tyler Sharp, associate director of

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International Student Services.

“While we didn’t send any students abroad, we did accept new study abroad students from partner schools in other countries through our exchange programs. We started sending students abroad again in earnest in the spring and summer of 2022.”

Under the program, any students who have completed their freshman year with a GPA of 2.5, are self-motivated and independent, have a desire for adventure

Walker Tatum and a group of Marshall students studied abroad in Europe.

The Kakehashi Japan program

Rome, Italy

Pisa, Italy

The Kakehashi Japan program

“

It gave me exposure to the world outside of campus life and allowed me to gain a new perspective on ways of thinking.”

— Darshan Sangani senior, studied in Spain

and have a strong interest in learning about other cultures are eligible for one or more of the programs managed

by Sharp’s office.

Those interested in dipping their feet

in the overseas experience often begin with one of the Marshall faculty-led programs. These usually take place in the summer and are taught by Marshall faculty. In the past, students have traveled to Spain, Argentina, Belize, El Salvador, Mexico, China, Japan, Ireland and England to study and learn about the culture.

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Darshan Sangani, now a senior at Marshall, chose to study in Spain with Dr. Maria Carmen Riddel.

During his month abroad, Sangani took Spanish courses at the local university and lived with a host family. While he’d been to India to visit family, he’d never been to Spain or any part of Europe.

“At first, I was concerned about the costs. Luckily the Marshall study abroad office helped me figure it out financially and paved my way across the sea,” Sangani said. “I’m glad I explored the option. It was eye-opening.

It gave me exposure to the world outside of campus life and allowed me to gain a new perspective on ways of thinking. You learn to appreciate and embrace other cultures. The experience showed me we are much more alike than we are different.”

Through KIIS (Kentucky Institute

(Above top) Students at the Chicago O'Hare airport before departure for Japan. (Above bottom) Study abroad students at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium (Athletico Madrid's soccer stadium).

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“

Looking back now, it’s something I would do 100 times over.”

— Walker Tatum junior, studied in Europe

for International Studies) Marshall offers low-cost study abroad options for students. These range from 25 four-week summer programs to four-semester programs in Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada and Central and South America. KIIS is one of several nonprofit affiliate programs Marshall works with to help facilitate studying abroad. KIIS programs are faculty-led courses of study. Other affiliate programs offer opportunities in Greece, Australia, Ireland, the Middle East and sometimes Russia and India.

Currently, Marshall has school-to-school exchange partnerships with five universities overseas — two in France and Japan, and one in the United Kingdom. These are usually semester-long programs.

Because the university wants the same number of exchange students coming to Marshall as it sends abroad, the number of those who participate fluctuates each semester.

The highest volume of students traveling abroad to study and experience other cultures occurs

in the summer. That’s partially because students don’t want to give up an entire semester for one class when they have other requirements to fulfill. But it’s also because many Marshall students have never been out of the country, and shorter stays are easier on the students than ones that last four to five months. There are often 50 to 60 students participating in these short experiential summer opportunities.

Walker Tatum, a junior biology major, is one of those students. A native of Wayne, West Virginia, Tatum was initially concerned about traveling abroad for the first time.

“Initially, I turned down the chance to study overseas. But the people in the study abroad program addressed my concerns about the costs and what to expect,” Tatum said. “They spent more time prepping students like me who had never been out of the country. Looking back now, it’s something I would do 100 times over.”

Walker may have to get in line.

According to Sharp, students are coming to his office constantly wanting to find out about studying abroad.

“Students are eager to travel.

After COVID, I’ve definitely noticed there’s pent-up demand for study abroad programs,” Sharp noted.

While it may take some time to fully rebuild the program because of lingering anxiety about COVID or the state of world affairs, Sharp said students are ready to go now.

“They’re very eager, and I’m excited to be able to help them through this process. I’m happy the restrictions have mostly ended and that it’s safe for students to start studying abroad again. It’s a truly life-changing experience for them.”

Carter Seaton is an author and freelance writer living in Huntington.

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h a l

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c o r r i d o r

A NEW Gateway to

MARSHALL’S

HUNTINGTON CAMPUS Construction has begun on a major project that will make Hal Greer Boulevard safer for students and more aesthetically pleasing to visitors.

By James E. Casto

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(Opposite page) A rendering shows the changes to Hal Greer Boulevard that will make it safer for students. (This page) Construction work is currently underway.

A

fter a multiyear planning and design process, construction work has started on a project that will transform Hal Greer Boulevard from Third Avenue to Washington Boulevard.

“Hal Greer Boulevard is the gateway to downtown Huntington and the Marshall University campus,” said Huntington Mayor Steve Williams. “Every day thousands of motorists travel Hal Greer Boulevard. Our goal is to make the Hal Greer corridor much safer, better lighted and more conducive to economic development.”

The Hal Greer improvements are the result of a lengthy collaboration among the City of Huntington,

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A multiyear planning and design process led to a project that will transform the corridor from Third Avenue to Washington Boulevard.

the KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission and the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH).

Other partners who aided in the planning included Marshall University, Marshall Health, Cabell Huntington Hospital, the Thundercloud fiber optic network, the Fairfield Alliance, Fairfield Community Development Corporation, the A.D. Lewis Community Center, the Huntington Housing Authority, businesses located on Hal Greer and residents of the Fairfield neighborhood.

“This plan is very special,” said KYOVA Executive Director Chris Chiles. “And one of the reasons why is because all levels of government and the community came together to create it. Without the united front displayed by all the agencies involved and without the participation of the community we would not be where we are today.

“Moreover,” he continued, “what we’ve accomplished with the Hal Greer plan lays the groundwork for future cooperative projects here in the area. We have shown the DOH that the city, other major stakeholders and the members of the community can come together and deliver a major transformational project. You do not see that in many places.”

The DOH has awarded a $13.5 million contract to Triton Construction Inc. for the construction work revamping Hal Greer. The City of Huntington will contribute 20% of the project’s cost. The remaining 80% is funded through a federal grant secured by KYOVA. Busy Hal Greer Boulevard is the epicenter of Huntington’s medical infrastructure, with Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall’s growing health sciences campus, which draw steady streams of traffic.

“The Hal Greer corridor is very congested, and it’s gotten worse with our addition of the School of Pharmacy, student housing and a parking garage,” said

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James E. Terry, director of MU’s Office of Public Safety. the safety of all users, prioritized consideration for pe“So the major improvements coming for the corridor destrians and bikers, addressing stormwater issues and are certainly welcome. supporting quality development and redevelopment.”

“I like the plan’s unified approach, with all the inWilliams noted that construction work implementing dividual pieces designed to work together,” he added. the planned improvements will bring major traffic inter“I especially like the new ruptions in the coming protections it will provide months, but the tempopedestrians and bikers.” rary inconvenience will Ultimately, improvebe more than worth it for Our goal is to make ments also are envisioned a new, safer roadway. The the Hal Greer corridor for the portion of the Hal plan also envisions new Greer Corridor stretcheconomic development much safer, better lighted ing from Washington opportunities along Hal and more conducive to Boulevard to Kinetic Park.

Greer Boulevard. economic development.

Williams noted that “That’s going to take as the project plan was time, but it’s going to being drafted, several ophappen. It’s inevitable,” — Steve Williams portunities were provided Williams said. “I can Mayor of Huntington for members of the public absolutely guarantee to hear about the plan you that if somebody and offer their feedback. left Huntington today The opportunities included an initial project symposium, and returned after being gone for 10 years they wouldn’t multiple public meetings as work on the plan progressed recognize Hal Greer Boulevard. That’s how dramatically and an open house detailing the final plan. different the future corridor is going to be.”

“There were several guiding principles in the creation The new improvements being undertaken along the of the Hal Greer plan,” Williams said. “These included Hal Greer corridor include:

“

”

The Hal Greer plan will provide increased safety for pedestrians and bikers and lead to redevelopment of the Fairfield West region.

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• Widened sidewalks on the east side, protected midblock crossings with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian countdown signals at intersections and planted medians to address stormwater issues and control turning movements.

•New pedestrian lighting along Hal Greer from Third Avenue to Washington Boulevard.

•Protected bike lanes from Third Avenue to Seventh Avenue and a protected pedestrian and bike path under the Hal Greer underpass.

•Realigning Charleston and 10th avenues on either side of the former Northcott Court to straighten out the intersections and eliminate redundant stop lights.

•Reconfigured stop lights along the rest of the Hal Greer corridor to allow for a more efficient pathway.

According to simulation models, the roadway improvements will reduce the overall corridor delay by 12-15%.

•Major safety improvements near Cabell Huntington Hospital, especially for pedestrians. This includes the construction of a Danish crossing (pedestrian island) at the intersection of Columbia and 13th avenues, which will give pedestrians a safe refuge while crossing Hal Greer. The entrance to Cabell Huntington Hospital and Medical Center Drive will be redesigned and will include aligned crosswalks and upgraded signals for pedestrians crossing Hal Greer.

•Reconfiguring of the roadway near Marshall’s campus between Third and Seventh avenues to add a two-way cycle track, which will be protected from traffic by additional parallel parking.

James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history.

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s i m o n

p e r r y

The Man, the Myth,

Venerated professor and political science icon Dr. Simon Perry dies at the age of 92.

By Katherine Pyles

T

he thing about legends is that they’re seldom true. An embellishment here, an exaggeration there, and the facts, over time, become fiction.

But when it comes to the legend of the late Dr. Simon Perr y, professor emeritus of the Department of Political Science at Marshall and the university’s longestserving faculty member, you can believe every word: “Loved.”

“Feared.” “Tough, but fair.” “An institution.” “A treasure.”

“Legendary.”

“When Dr. Perry died on Jan. 27 at the age of 92, it was a profound loss for the Marshall community,” said Patricia Proctor, founding director of the Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy, in an interview for The Parthenon. “He was a brilliant

“

professor with a hunger for knowledge and an intellectual curiosity that never waned. His students — and I was one — were the beneficiaries of this. He was deeply thoughtful and pushed students to challenge their preconceptions, open their minds and grow as critical thinkers and as human beings.”

As a professor, Perry was known for his stories. Heartfelt anecdotes about his childhood on Gilbert Creek in Mingo County and his wife, Frances, whom he playfully (and re— Paul Hughart lentlessly) teased, provided well-timed relief during rigorous lectures. Perry would scan the room with a familiar twinkle in his eye, and you’d know: “This is going to be a good one.”

“I think students probably remember my stories,

S imon Perry was

the epitome of what a college professor should be.”

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perhaps more than they remember the content of Taliban, their “adopted daughter” and her children my classes,” said Perry in a 2011 Huntington Quarterly their adopted grandchildren. When Perry passed magazine interview. away — at his home, in Frances’s arms — the couple “Simon Perry was the epitome of what a colhad been married 66 years. lege professor should be,” said former student Paul Perry completed his doctoral dissertation in 1961 Hughart in the Huntington Quarterly. He said Perry and joined Marshall’s political science department inspired students to pursue careers not only in pothe following year. The rest is history — U.S. politilitical science but also in public service, academia, cal history, to be exact. the law, journalism and social work. They crowded During Perry’s tenure at Marshall, he received into classes like “Power in American Society” and the Marshall Distinguished Service Award, was the “Public Opinion and Propaganda,” knowing a passuniversity’s first Drinko Fellow and was named ing grade would be a hard-fought battle.

Distinguished West Virginian twice, first by Gov. It was no secret that Perry’s classes were among Arch Moore and later by Gov. Joe Manchin. Perry the most difficult at Marshall, yet students flocked served as chair of Marshall’s political science departto them anyway — in Perry’s 48 years at the univerment from 1975 to 1994. On April 30, 2010, when sity, he taught more than 20,000 students. As Perry he entered the classroom for his final lecture, Perry once said, “To be perceived as challenging is the found a room overflowing with colleagues, friends greatest compliment.” and former students. Moved by their presence, Perry In his distinctive deep voice, Perry encouraged students to engage in civil discourse and political activism — areas in which he had firsthand experience.

As an undergraduate at Berea College in the 1950s, Perry organized boycotts of local businesses that refused to serve his Black classmates. He drove the point home in his valedictory address: “It is unjust and plain conceit for one person to discriminate against another on the basis of race, color or creed,” he said during the speech. “It is time that you should recognize that segregation is bad, and it would be good of you, if you could become concerned enough, to lend a hand in putting it to its deathbed.”

After graduating from Berea, Perry returned to Gilbert Creek and accepted a high school teaching job, a role he held briefly before continuing his education at the University of Tennessee, where he earned his master’s degree, and Michigan State University, where he earned his Ph.D. It was during his three-month stint at Williamson High School that he met Frances Hickman, a young chemistry teacher there. The pair would marry a year later and go on to have four children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They considered Razia Bennoui, an Afghan imDr. Simon Perry was known for his tough classes and entertaining lectures. migrant whose family was killed by the

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paused — but only for a moment — and then carried him as part of our lives.” on with his lecture.

Robert Ingersoll, a 19th-century orator and Nationally, Perry was a known expert on constilawyer who famously delivered the funeral eulogy tutional democracy. for Walt Whitman in He was invited to the 1892, gave a eulogy White House during at his brother Ebon President Carter’s adIngersoll’s graveside in ministration to par1879 which Perry had ticipate in a conferalways found touchence for the Strategic ing. Quoted near the Arms Limitation Talks end of Perry’s obituary, (SALT II), a series of it might as well have conferences with corbeen written about responding treaties Perry himself: “This regarding the use of brave and tender man nuclear weapons in in every storm of life the U.S. and the Soviet was oak and rock; but — Patricia Proctor Union. The SALT II in the sunshine he was Founding Director of the treaty was a precursor vine and flower. … He Simon Perry Center for to the New START added to the sum of Constitutional Democracy treaty currently makhuman joy; and were ing headlines for its every one to whom role in the U.S.-Russia he did some loving tensions. service to bring a blosThe legacy of Perry’s prolific career lives on at the som to his grave, he would sleep [tonight] beneath Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy, a wilderness of flowers.” established in 2011. The center offers pre-law advising, To read Perry’s obituary in full, visit www.henan academic minor in constitutional democracy and sonandkitchen.com/obituaries/Simon-Perry-2/. the Amicus Curiae Lecture Series on Constitutional Donations in Perry’s memory may be made to the Democracy. At the center, students take courses that Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy Perry himself created, under the tutelage of profesat www.marshall.edu/spc. sors willing to embrace what Perry once called “a professor’s greatest pressure — bringing to life rather Katherine Pyles is a freelance writer living in than putting to sleep the mind of the student.”

Huntington, West Virginia. She is a 2009 graduate For Proctor, her former professor’s influence goes of the Marshall University School of Journalism & beyond the name of the center she directs.

Mass Communications.

“He influenced my life. He provided the intellectual challenges that prepared me for law school and a legal career,” she said in The Parthenon. “He also was kind-hearted, an advocate for what was right, not afraid to call out prejudice in all forms and to stand up for people marginalized by society.

I and so many others are better for having

“

H e influenced my

life. I and so many others are better for having him as part of our lives.”

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everGreen

everGreen YOUR ALUMNI CONNECTION

A MESSAGE FROM MIK

ALA SHREMSHOCK

MUAA National President

Hello, Marshall family!

to. Every wines exactly when it’s supposed etim som e, tim n ow its in es in. Some of us As they say, everything com flowers will ever bloom aga r ou if or en gre be r eve l n wil extra effort and sip tea and ter, we may doubt if our law lously. Some of us skip the ticu me lch mu waiting, would it be as and ze tili fer requires patience. Without plant and reseed, ing spr ch, roa app r you of d. Regardless read books all winter instea beautiful and magnificent?

Banquet. Amazingly, this University Alumni Awards all rsh Ma the — r yea the of away for a couple of orite event ic took the in-person event dem With the spring comes my fav pan D VI CO the ce the Marshall ion of awardees sin l individuals are members of cia spe ese will be our first new select Th ! ees ard aw ng utions of to honoring some amazi so impressed with the contrib am I y. nit mu years. And we look for ward com and y ed impact on the universit family that have had an outsiz the best of the best. award winners truly represent each of the nominees. These tinue to lead new slate of officers to con a ct ele l wil we g etin me the board. If you would Alumni Association board Also new, during our spring electing 10 new members to be o als ’ll We . ers mb me i ted alumn marshall.edu. this amazing group of dedica by reaching out at alumni@ re mo rn lea ays alw can joining, you rk like more information about r for our nationwide netwo fun events throughout the yea , tch -no tiatop ini st re ho to mo d ed har ionally anding workload and add The alumni staff work except tt James, has taken on a dem Ma or, ect dir six months has been ive cut exe r and the staff over the past him of Marshall alums. Ou h wit ng rki Wo e! rol few months in the tives of his own in his first invigorating and delightful. alumni chapter? You nt. What? You don’t have an eve r pte cha i mn alu t nex r of your Marshall invite Matt to you e close to you? Gather a few on e hav I strongly encourage you to n’t Do m. .co lum events and al chapters on HerdA them in developing signature ist ass to rs can find a map of all the loc pte cha ing erg working with many em backyard — Huntington and friends and start one! We are chapters are in Marshall’s ing erg em the of me So a. uisville and around their are Myrtle Beach, Annapolis, Lo in establishing connections in rs pte cha new as ll we as ng restarted — Charleston chapters are bei the countr y. time. Therefore, we’re also ales for a short amount of loc ir the in ly on are or School of Medicine of the world alumni chapters. While the ed Today’s alumni are citizens bas cyuen stit con p elo nected to their anizations to dev g the benefit of staying con din fin are working with colleges and org s up gro nal sio fes up for years, other pro rousing game of softball! has had a strong alumni gro fessional opportunities or a pro nt, me ain ert ent s, new alma mater for . I hope to see you all in whatever way suits you rsh Ma h wit ted nec con accounts. g more involved and with the alumni social media ted nec con y I hope you’ll consider gettin sta or ail, e-m ach out to us via phone or n! Go Herd! at a Marshall event soon! Re see you in Huntington soo to pe ho I y; rsit ive Un all of Marsh Thank you for your support Mikala Shremshock y Alumni Association President, Marshall Universit

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everGreen CLASS NOTES 1940s Julian Heath Sockman (’49) celebrated his 100th birthday March 3.

Sockman is a World War II veteran, having been awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. During his time at Marshall, Sockman was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

In recent years, Sockman served on the Marshall University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Wallace is the author of more than a dozen books. He also is the executive producer and host of the Day1 ecumenical and internet ministry (Day1. org) and president of the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is an ordained Episcopal priest serving in the Diocese of Atlanta.

1990s

Philip W. Carter Jr. (’65) received special recognition when the City of Huntington dedicated the Ninth Street Plaza as the Phil Carter Plaza on Oct. 28. For more than 60 years, Carter was a professor of social work and academic activist in Marshall’s College of Health Professions.

West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History’s Superintendent of the Year. Cline took the reins as superintendent of Wyoming County Schools in 2016. She is the county’s first female school superintendent.

Dr. Randi D. Litman Ward (’71) has accepted a position as the chancellor of the new online World University of Leadership and Management and will represent it at its first conference in Dubai in January 2024.

The Rev. Peter M. Wallace (’76) pub-

lished his latest book, “A Generous Beckoning: Accepting God’s Invitation to a More Fulfilling Life,” in February.

book “Things I Wish I Knew: A Manual for Future You.” The book aims to help new graduates as they navigate life as young professionals, specifically in the areas of finance, relationships and health. Bowen graduated from Marshall with a degree in organizational communication.

Newhouse on Oct. 28. Wheeler is the director of development at the Huntington Museum of Art and Newhouse is the county administrator for Cabell County.

2010s

Tia Fenton (’98) joined Duane Morris

as partner in the law firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group in its Washington, D.C., office.

William “Billy” K. Marshall (’93)

was appointed by Gov. Jim Justice as the commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Marshall previously served more than 25 years with the West Virginia State Police.

1970s

Stacey Bowen (’09) published her

Jennifer Wheeler (’07) married Ben Deirdre Cline (’91) was named the

1960s

2000s

Dave Traube (’10) was hired as

Marshall University’s chief marketing officer on Oct. 10. Traube graduated from Marshall with a degree in broadcast journalism. Traube was previously the vice president of communications and marketing at the University of Charleston.

Christina Mullins (’95, ’97) was appointed as deputy secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

Mullins previously served as the commissioner of the DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health since 2018.

For more Class Notes, go to www.herdalum.com.

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class notes

In Memoriam Elizabeth Marie Mustain died on Feb. 6. She was born in Chicago on Oct. 20, 1950. Mustain grew up in Charleston. She attended George Washington High School and graduated from Marshall University, where she played on the university tennis team.

She earned certifications in physical education and mathematics. She had a master’s degree in education from Eastern Kentucky University. She was an educator for more than 35 years in the Chesterfield County school system in Virginia. She approached teaching with dedication, passion and patience.

Mustain is survived by her loving husband, Tony Mustain; two children, Ashley Chambers and husband, Luke, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Brett Ager of Richmond, Virginia; and her devoted dog, Fender.

Elias J. “Lou” Sahadi (’53) died on Feb. 15. Sahadi was born on Oct. 24, 1930, in New York City to

immigrant Lebanese parents. He served in the Korean War as an MP in the United States Army. He graduated from Marshall with a degree in journalism.

Sahadi was a well-known sports author and editor, having written dozens of sports books and published many articles in numerous magazines, including working with Willie Mays on his autobiography, “Say Hey: The Autobiography of Willie Mays.”

Sahadi is survived by his five children, Joseph, Helen, David, Elizabeth and John.

Billy G. Adams (’62, ’65) died on Aug. 5, 2022 at his home in Barboursville, West Virginia. He retired from Cabell County Schools in 2001 as the administrative assistant to the superintendent over elementary schools.

P lease share your news with us!

Preference will be given to active alumni.

Other news will be printed as space allows and should be received within six months of the event.

Send details to

Marshall University Alumni Association One John Marshall Drive • Huntington, WV 25755

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spotlight

Matt James A TRUE SON OF MARSHALL TAPPED TO LEAD THE MUAA

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lumni are the lifeblood of any institution of higher learning.

They are the givers. They are the doers. They are the true hands and feet of a university, helping better their communities through the degrees they earn and helping better their alma mater through action.

Therefore, it only stands to reason that the person heading up an alumni program have certain traits that helps them have more of a connection with those dedicated alums, while also possessing a willingness to educate and work side by side with students that make up the future alumni population.

At Marshall University, there is none that fits that bill better than Matt James.

Named the new executive director of alumni relations at Marshall University in the fall of 2022, James has hit the ground running as only he can.

A decorated former student, a caring advocate for the student population and an alumnus with green-and-white credentials that are hard to equal, this Bluefield, West Virgina, native and two-time graduate is ready to shake up the alumni program at Marshall and grow it like never before.

“I like to say that I fell in love with Marshall and at Marshall, having met my wife, Sara, during our freshman year. Specifically, I fell in love with MU and never left, having spent exactly half of my life here over the past 19 years as a student and staff member,” James said. “The impact Marshall University has made on my life is immeasurable.

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to me over the last two decades. Marshall is a special place, but it’s the people who make it so special.”

James’ ties to his alma mater are unmatched. A southern West Virginia transplant, he came to Marshall in 2004 as a student and simply never left. In his own words, he fell in love with a special campus that quickly became his second home.

“Coming from southern West Virginia, I always aspired to attend Virginia Tech. As a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so VT’s vet school seemed like a natural fit being so close in proximity to my hometown,” James said.

“However, during a high school recruiting fair, I met someone from Marshall who invited me to visit Huntington. From the moment I stepped foot on our campus, it felt like home. The rest is history.”

James transitions into his new role after many years as both a faculty and staff member on campus working with the current student population.

After beginning his postgraduate career as a graduate assistant, James moved into his first professional role as a student resource specialist and academic advisor for undecided students. From there, he was promoted to assistant dean of students in 2015, a role in which he had an opportunity to oversee multiple areas of the university, including Student Activities, Student Involvement and Leadership, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Military and Veterans Affairs and Intercultural and International Student Affairs.

During that time, James had an opportunity to mold

everGreen student programs under the leadership of four different university presidents.

“My career path began during my undergraduate years when I was elected student body president,” James said.

“That role provided me with access and opportunities that ultimately shifted my career focus from pharmacy to higher education administration to where I am today.

“Having worked with so many students, I can say that the most rewarding aspect is observing their professional growth and development. Often, working in Student Affairs, we were present for the highest of highs and lowest of lows for students; and mentoring those students to overcome obstacles was especially rewarding during my time as assistant dean of students. Thankfully, I’ve been able to maintain my role as an adjunct faculty member for the Honors College and I serve as an advisor to the Student Government Association. Both roles allow me to maintain contact with students, which feeds my passion for student development.”

When he was a student himself, James was crowned Mr. Marshall in 2007 and was elected student body president for 2008-09. He would go on to earn two degrees from the university, including a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2009 and a master’s in school counseling in 2011.

“I’ll never forget walking out on the football field during Homecoming my senior year with both of my parents and being crowned Mr. Marshall. That is a memory I will cherish with my family forever,” James said.

“I’ll also never forget the countless experiences and people I met during my time serving as student body president.

I have been blessed by so many impactful mentors during my time at Marshall. There are many who have made a significant impact on me, both personally and professionally.”

James credits his student experience as one of his biggest strengths when connecting to alumni, pledging to help bridge the gap between the young alumni population and previous generations.

“My heart will always be with the students; however, I saw an opportunity to contribute to my alma mater in new and meaningful ways,” James said. “Having spent the past

several years in student affairs administration, joining the Marshall Foundation family was a leap of faith. But it has been a breath of fresh air. We have so much potential to expand alumni efforts to Herd Nation around the world.

Under the leadership of President (Brad D.) Smith, and with the support of the Foundation and the exciting momentum surrounding athletics, we are poised for a very bright future.”

Already hitting the ground running, James has a number of priorities he is setting for the new look of the alumni relations department, including growing the alumni chapter network and helping grow the student population through student recruitment.

“First and foremost, we are rebuilding our alumni chapters around the world.

The pandemic was detrimental to many programs, but especially difficult for our alumni chapters. After [I assumed] this position in October, our alumni and Foundation team wasted little time facilitating the growth and cultivation of multiple alumni and affinity chapters,” James said.

“We are also working closely to support President Smith’s vision and priorities, specifically to grow enrollment, build scholarships, and provide mentorship and employment opportunities for our students and alumni. Lastly, I feel compelled to identify fresh and innovative ways to engage our young alumni population beyond donorship. We are in the process of strategically planning new initiatives and programs to grow our young alumni network and celebrate their accomplishments.”

James currently lives in Huntington with his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Saylor. They have two “wiener” dogs, Chip and Charlie. James is a passionate animal advocate, supporting abused and abandoned dogs at his local animal shelter.

So what message does James want to leave with alumni eager to get involved in this new era of alumni engagement?

“If you bleed green or feel called to strengthen your bond with the alumni community, give me a call and let’s make it happen,” James said. “It is a special time to be a member of the Marshall family. The best is truly yet to come, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

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thank a donor

Thank a Donor Days SUPPORTING THE HERD RIGHT AT HOME

O

n Sept. 6, six Marshall University staff members received quite the surprise, complete with balloons, visits from Marco and Miss Marshall and, most importantly, recognition for their years of generous contributions to the Marshall University Foundation.

The surprises were a part of the Marshall Foundation’s Thank A Donor Days, which took place Sept. 26-30 and celebrated the university’s various supporters from staff giving, scholarship endowments and friends and family members of students who helped them achieve their dreams.

Thank A Donor Days also celebrated the conclusion of the Marshall Rises campaign, the Marshall Foundation’s first comprehensive campaign, which raised $176 million for the university in six years.

“The Marshall Rises campaign has been tremendous. I think it helps with our national prestige, especially with our peers in comparison,” said Dr. Monica Brooks, dean of university libraries. “We’re a force to be reckoned with. We’ve elevated our academic standing

2021 Miss Marshall Caroline Kinder, Perry Chaffin, Bob Walker, Marco and Annual Fund Director Griffin Talbott

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2021 Miss Marshall Caroline Kinder, Karen McComas, Marco, Mary Beth Reynolds and Annual Fund Director Griffin Talbott

and our athletic standing, and now we’re elevating our financial standing.”

While the decision to give to the Marshall Foundation varies slightly among each staff member, it is always rooted in student success.

Perry Chaffin and Bob Walker both work in Marshall’s finance department. The similarities don’t end there, though. Both are from Kenova, West Virginia, and they were both first-generation college students. While they are nearly 10 years apart in age, they even grew up on the same street. For both Chaffin and Walker, giving to Marshall was their way of saying “thank you” for the opportunities they received after earning their degrees.

“I felt that I should give to the Foundation because I had opportunities that others in my family did not,” said Chaffin, director of internal audit. “I was given this jump start, so I decided to give back. I felt really proud and fortunate that my parents would support me. My parents really valued an education; they said, ‘Hey, we want better for you.’ It was just a great situation, and that’s really what got me started giving.”

Walker found that giving to the Marshall Foundation

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1. Monica Brooks, Marco, Patsy Stephenson 2. Monica Brooks, Marco, Patsy Stephenson 3. Marco, Patsy Stephenson 4. High Fives 5. Marco, Monica Brooks

allowed him to extend the same opportunities he had to students who might face disadvantages.

“I wanted to support the university because it supported me in getting the education I have, and to be where I am today,” said Walker, director of finance information. “I thought it’s best to support where you come from. I like to think I’m helping someone who may not have the same opportunity to get an education, which I feel is very important for everyone.”

Dr. Karen McComas and Dr. Mary Beth Reynolds know firsthand the importance of what a quality education can provide. Both work in the Office of Academic Affairs and are instrumental in crafting the university’s curriculum. McComas is the interim associate vice president for academic affairs and associate provost. Reynolds is the associate provost and associate vice president for assessment and quality initiatives.

“The most important part of a university is the students. Everything we do is in service of students,” Reynolds said. “When I first became a faculty member at Marshall, I felt like that was almost a sacred trust.”

Reynolds and her husband, Nick, decided to start contributing to the Marshall Foundation because of the impact the university has made in their lives and the lives of their children as members of the Huntington community.

For McComas, the decision to give was an important one, both professionally and personally.

“For me, Marshall is a family affair,” McComas said.

“My father graduated from Marshall in 1945. I came here in 1973 as a freshman; and since then, with the exception of two years, I have either been enrolled at or employed by the university. My entire adult life has been wrapped up in this place, so I feel really deeply committed to it.”

Because of the generosity and commitment of Marshall’s benefactors, the university has been able to make significant strides in the 21st century.

Patsy Stephenson, document librarian, has been with the university for 41 years. In that time, she has witnessed the dramatic changes across the Huntington campus, particularly for the university’s libraries.

“I think the most inspirational has been the online learning and everything you can do with computers,” Stephenson said. “When I started here, we had a few computers and people had to stand in line to use them.”

But for Stephenson, it’s not just the changes you can see up close. It’s the incremental changes that build over a period of years or decades.

“I had graduated from here. My husband went to school here. We had our son and knew that he would go here. It was a part of giving back,” Stephenson said.

“When you are here for so long, you see what even just $1 can do. So, through the years, you want to give back and want to see everything grow.”

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Nominate a

#HerdAlum

Submit an online nomination today to recommend an outstanding member of the Marshall University family for an alumni award.

for an award today!

Awards include: Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Service to Marshall University, Outstanding Community Achievement, Distinguished Young Alumni and more.

HerdAlum.com/Nominations

Update Your Contact Information … it’s so easy!

Want to keep in touch with the latest news and events at Marshall University? Then update your contact information today! The Marshall University Alumni Association is calling on all alumni to join us and update your information today so that we can better serve you and keep you informed of the latest news, happenings, offerings and much, much more from your alma mater!

Updating your information is simple — visit www.herdalum.com and click on the update contact information button at the bottom of the page and you are all set! For more information or questions, email us at alumni@marshall.edu.

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Saturday, April 1, 2023 | Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall The Marshall University Alumni Association (MUAA) is proud to present the 84th annual Alumni Awards Banquet Distinguished Alumnus Distinguished Alumna Bill Noe Randi Ward

on Saturday, April 1, at Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. The MUAA is excited to recognize this year’s outstanding class of awardees when the event takes place on the Huntington campus in the spring.

Join the MUAA and the larger university

Distinguished Service to Marshall University Randy Dunfee

community in celebrating and honoring these outstanding alumni, students, faculty, supporters and friends of Marshall University. For more information about nominating an alum for future awards recognition, or to watch this year’s awards banquet online, please visit www.

Outstanding Community Achievement Mendy Aluise

herdalum.com or call 304-696-3134.

Distinguished Young Alumnus Christopher Taylor

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breaking news: homecoming 2023

Breaking News: MARSHALL SETS 2023 HOMECOMING FOR SEPT. 30

T

he pageantry and excitement of Homecoming will return to Marshall University beginning Monday, Sept. 25, and culminating with the crowning of Mr. and Miss Marshall at halftime during the game against Old Dominion University on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Slotted between early-season matchups against Virginia Tech and North Carolina State, this year’s celebration will mark the earliest Homecoming has come to the Huntington campus since a victory over Toledo in the 1977 Homecoming game on Sept. 24.

“Homecoming is such an integral part of the Marshall University calendar for our alumni, our supporters and our student population,” said Matt James, executive director of the Marshall University Alumni Association. “It is a unique time where the entire Marshall family comes together to celebrate the rich history and proud traditions of our university. And this year we are excited to shake things up a bit with an earlier date right in the heart of the schedule. So, mark your calendars and join us in September for as many events as your schedule will allow as we prepare for another wonderful week of Homecoming activities.”

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Several pillar Homecoming events will highlight the weeklong celebration, including the annual Unity Walk, Homecoming Parade, Picnic on the Plaza and numerous tailgates and gatherings

throughout the day on Sept. 30.

The week will conclude with the Thundering Herd taking on the Old Dominion Monarchs in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

“We are super-excited to welcome

everyone back to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for Homecoming 2023 on Sept. 30,” said Athletic Director Christian Spears. “The Sun Belt schedule has offered us a unique opportunity for a late September Homecoming game against a familiar conference foe in ODU. We look forward to seeing all of Herd Nation join us at The Joan for a beautiful day of football on Sept. 30!”

The Thundering Herd is coming off a 9-4 season, highlighted by a historic win over Notre Dame and a victory in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Marshall finished third in the East Division during its inaugural season in the Sun Belt Conference.

Since the opening of The Joan in 1990, Marshall is 27-6 in Homecoming games and 9-1 over its past 10 games.

This season will mark the third time the Monarchs have come to Huntington as the Homecoming opponent, with the Herd taking victories in 2021 and 2017.

For more information about Mar shall’s 2023 Homecoming celebrations, watch future issues of Marshall Magazine, contact the Marshall University Alumni Association at 304-6963424, or for ticket information call 1-800-THE-HERD.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS LET’S GO! Greetings, Fellow Alumni and Friends of Marshall University: What an exciting time to be a part of the Marshall University family! g up Marshall Rises, the largest, most ambitious When we last shared an update with you late in 2022, we were just wrappin excited to enter a brand-new era right here in are we Now, ty. comprehensive campaign in the history of Marshall Universi our very own alumni department. e director of alumni relations, overseeing In the fall we had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Matt James as the new executiv Matt and his journey to this new role about more read can You l.

Marshal at all aspects of alumni outreach and growth here to take this opportunity to welcome Matt to the in the following pages of this issue of the Marshall Magazine, but we wanted team and share with all of you what comes next. improve the overall alumni experience, while also There are a number of areas that will be tackled immediately that will help their alma mater. Headlining that charge will be a providing our alums with a real purpose and opportunity to give back to before. seen concerted effort to expand our alumni chapter network to heights never and affinity-based chapters provide alumni Alumni chapters are an important part of Marshall University. These regional and opportunities to give back to the university with the means to stay connected to Marshall, while offering unique events process of reaching out to our current the in actively and connect, all in the name of our shared alma mater. We are w chapters that are popping up across brand-ne and ic pandem the during times chapters, as well as chapters that fell on hard world that can answer the call and help improve the country. Our goal is to develop a strong network of chapters around the the experience for the students of Marshall. connecting with and reaching our young alumni Another area of focus for the new-look alumni office is a renewed focus on new graduates and young alums connect to pockets population. This goal ties in closely with the previous goal as we help our This effort will also include new ways to get go. they of alumni and regional and affinity-based chapters no matter where events or chances to serve through outlets such new exciting nities, young alumni involved, either through volunteer opportu . as the Marshall University Alumni Association national board of directors alumni population. This includes researching new The final immediate focus is expanded outreach efforts across our entire informed. That includes traditional methods such and engaged alumni keep to and expanding current methods of outreach er, our social media and even a new website. as this very magazine and new outlets such as the monthly alumni newslett from you! If you have any suggestions, ideas or Above all, as we gear up for a new era in alumni relations, we want to hear out any time at alumni@marshall.edu. We comments about the alumni experience at Marshall University, you can reach look forward to growing together.

Until next time, Godspeed and GO HERD! Best Regards, Marshall University Office of Alumni Relations

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