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Jerome A . “ Jerry ” Gilbert
President , Marshall University
AMANDA LARCH
Photo by Marshall University .
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Jerry Gilbert fell in love with West Virginia in 1973 and always hoped he would get to come back to the state . A Mississippi native , Gilbert was chosen as a high school senior to be one of two Mississippi delegates to the National Youth Science Camp in Pocahontas County that year .
“ My month in the mountains of West Virginia was a tremendous educational and recreational experience for me ,” says Gilbert . “ Being around other intelligent high school seniors and having the experience of learning from world experts in science was truly motivational and validating of my career choice of engineering and science .”
With a background in biological engineering and after completing his Ph . D . in biomedical engineering at Duke University , Gilbert ’ s career path shifted to higher education . It was during his position as provost at Mississippi State University that Gilbert first thought about being a university president . He was working closely with Mississippi State ’ s president at the time , Mark Keenum , who Gilbert says was a role model and mentor .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE