West Virginia Executive Winter 2019 | Page 80

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Changing Lives and Inspiring Extraordinary Futures There’s an old business adage that says you’re either growing or you’re dying. Suffice it to say that at Marshall University, there is quite a bit of growing under the direction of President Jerome Gilbert. A quick list of recent achievements includes a $55 million project to expand the university’s health sciences campus with a new school of pharmacy facility and graduate student housing and a transformational $25 million gift from Intuit Chairman/CEO Brad Smith and his wife, Alys, for the university’s business college. Marshall is also adding to its academic portfolio with a physician assistant program, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a newly approved master’s degree in cybersecurity. Marshall’s vision for its students, the community and the state of West Virginia focuses on success in a number of sectors, including higher education, health care and the economy. Because Southern West Virginia, part of Marshall’s traditional base, has been hit hardest by the downturn in the Mountain State’s economy, the university is particularly focused on the economy of that region. Led by Marshall, the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia is made up of 10 higher education institutions focused on revitalizing those communities. This effort is complementary to the West Virginia Forward initiative, where Marshall has partnered with West Virginia University and the Department of Commerce to look at policy initiatives affecting economic development. Marshall’s vision for West Virginia also includes ensuring its citizens have access to health care, including mental health and addiction services. The university is a world leader in providing recovery solutions to the opioid crisis that has gripped communities across the globe. In recent months, numerous federal agencies have visited to see firsthand how the Marshall and Huntington communities have tackled the issue. Higher education encourages students to develop critical thinking skills and rise beyond the ordinary. At Marshall, students are inspired to try new and different experiences and remove obstacles to find the exceptional in their lives. Marshall University remains steadfast in its commitment to the continued success of its students as well as the success of West Virginia. 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755 | (304) 696-3170 | www.marshall.edu