Brad D. Smith
  • @bradd_smith
  • Pioneer for Furthering Education and Economic Development in West Virginia
  • Huntington, West Virginia

Brad D. Smith, a distinguished executive leader from West Virginia, is the first alumnus to be elected as the President of Marshall University. He was chosen by a unanimous decision as the university's 38th president and has been serving in this role since January 2023.

Born and raised in Kenova, West Virginia, Brad returned to his home state after a successful career in Silicon Valley, where he held various executive leadership positions, most notably as CEO and later Executive Chairman of Intuit. Brad also served as Chairman of the Nordstrom Board, was a Board Member of Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey), and currently serves on the Humana Board of Directors and the Audit Committee for Amazon's Board of Directors as well.

With a mission to uplift West Virginia, Brad has supported numerous organizations to promote sustainable growth throughout the state, eventually starting his own to further these efforts.

The Wing 2 Wing Foundation, founded by Brad and his wife, Alys, is committed to building a better future for West Virginia by nurturing local entrepreneurs, accelerating access to educational opportunities for students, and investing in initiatives that support the region's natural beauty.

Their philanthropic efforts include a $25 million gift to West Virginia University, which in turn established the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC). This initiative seeks to bolster the West Virginia economy by incentivizing businesses to move and stay in the state, enhances outdoor access for people of all ability levels, and empowers communities through programs like the Outdoor Infrastructure & Community Development program, which expands and utilizes recreational resources in new and innovative ways. As part of the OEDC, they also created Ascend WV, a program designed to attract remote workers and new talent to the Mountain State.

As President of Marshall University, Brad has been integral to many transformative changes at his alma mater under the "Marshall For All, Marshall Forever" plan, which aims to eliminate student debt and achieve 100% job placement by 2037. Among its already many notable milestones, this initiative has also positioned Marshall University as a gold standard in higher education, paralleling his own organization's vision to establish West Virginia as a model for similar regions and communities across the globe.

Furthering their commitment to investing in education, in 2015, Brad and Alys founded the Brad D. and Alys Smith Family Scholarship with a $10 million donation to aid underserved students in West Virginia and Ohio in their pursuit of higher education. They also contributed $25 million to Marshall's School of Business which led to the creation of the Brad D. Smith Student Incubator and the naming of the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business to aid budding entrepreneurs in pursuing their passions. Over the years, both Brad and Alys have donated more than $35 million to the college and have no plans of slowing down yet.

Brad earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Marshall University and his master's degree in management from Aquinas College in Michigan. In 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Honorary Doctor of Business Degree from West Virginia University and in recognition of his dedication to Marshall, Brad was honored with the university's Distinguished Alumnus Award at its 83rd Alumni Awards Banquet.

Together, with his wife and two daughters, Payton and Devon, Brad and his family continue to champion initiatives that uplift West Virginia, distribute business opportunities to Appalachians, and empower local businesses big and small.

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Highlights

20+
Million in Philanthropic Contributions
10+
Board Memberships and Advisory Roles
2
Launched Nonprofits
1
1st Marshall University Alumnus President

Resume

View all
Jan 2022 - Present

President, Marshall University

Jan 2019 - Jan 2022

Executive Chairman, Intuit

Jan 2008 - Jan 2019

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Intuit

May 2005 - Jan 2008

Senior Vice President & General Manager, Intuit Small Business Division, Intuit