President of Marshall University
As a proud West Virginian with a passion for leadership and philanthropy, Brad D. Smith has dedicated his career to helping facilitate change by developing, supporting, and investing in people.
Originally from Kenova, Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marshall University and his master’s degree in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In January 2022, Smith began leading Marshall University as the University’s 38th president.
His devotion to giving back to his home state runs deep, and he is committed to providing educational and economic development resources to the Appalachian region, where many communities have been disproportionately affected by technological and economic change.
Smith’s Wing 2 Wing Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife Alys, is dedicated to expanding access to education and entrepreneurship. The foundation’s mission is to empower individuals through mentorship, investment, and support, thereby driving long-term economic growth and opportunity throughout West Virginia. Among its signature initiatives is Ascend West Virginia, a leading remote workforce recruitment program designed to attract talented individuals and contribute to sustainable economic growth in the Mountain State.
In addition to Ascend, the foundation is also focused on the First Ascent program, a collaborative effort between Marshall University and West Virginia University aimed at bringing new, innovative talent to the state. First Ascent offers high-impact fellowships, mentoring, and career development opportunities, nurturing the next generation of leaders committed to West Virginia’s long-term prosperity and growth.
Before his time at Marshall University, Smith’s expansive career included an 11-year tenure as CEO of Intuit, as well as stints at PepsiCo, 7-UP, ADVO, and ADP, where he led turn-around, transformation, and high-growth environments.
He has served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Intuit, Chairman of Nordstrom’s Board, a board member of Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey) and Yahoo, and on the Board of Directors for Humana Inc., where his appointment ended in 2025 after years of strategic involvement.
He now holds board positions at Amazon (as a member of the Audit Committee) and JPMorgan Chase. Additionally, he lends his insight as a Board Advisor for DignifiHealth and helps lead national dialogue on technology in education as Co-Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)’s Commission on AI Education.
