Brad D. Smith

President of Marshall University, Co-Founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation and former executive leader. Powering possibility and leveling the playing field through education, entrepreneurship and equal opportunity.

About


While most people know of Brad D. Smith from his time spent as Intuit’s CEO and later executive chairman, his most recent work is rooted in academia and philanthropy. A proud West Virginia native with a passion for leadership and driving positive change, Brad is serving his home state as the President of Marshall University and the Co-Founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation. In both roles he is working to create and provide entrepreneurial support and guidance for young and aspiring business leaders from lesser-known zip codes.

Marshall University


Brad graduated from Marshall University in 1986 and has since remained an active member of the Marshall community. In 2021, Brad was unanimously selected to be the institution’s 38th president during a Board of Governors meeting. Brad’s ultimate goal as the university’s leader is to leverage the school as a great equalizer, transforming obstacles into potential and possibility.

Prior to his current appointment, Brad proactively sought out ways to support the school over the years. In 2015, Brad and his wife, Alys, established the Brad D. and Alys Smith Family Scholarship, and in 2018 the couple made a transformational gift to the university’s college of business.

Philanthropy


Brad and his wife Alys are both passionate about uplifting the place that Brad has always known as home: the state of West Virginia. It is what drove Brad to pursue his role at Marshall University and what inspired the couple to found their own nonprofit organization. In 2019 the Wing 2 Wing Foundation was created to advance the great equalizers of education and entrepreneurship in regions where individuals and communities have been overlooked and underserved. In doing so, they strive to champion human dignity and unleash human potential.

“Talent is dispersed equally, but opportunity is not,” Brad often says. 

Through the same compassionate leadership and passion for giving back, Brad and Alys seek to live by their favorite quote: “We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.”

Explore The Wing 2 Wing Foundation here.

Executive Leadership


Much of Brad’s leadership career was defined by his time at Intuit. While he held several leadership positions at Intuit during his 19-year tenure, the majority of his time was spent as the company’s CEO and, finally, Executive Chairman. Brad is credited with having transformed the company from a North American desktop company to a global cloud product and platform company that offers household name services like QuickBooks, TurboTax and Mint. Through his decade plus of transformative service, Brad retained and fostered the company’s core values and character that placed it on “Best Places to Work” lists year after year. Learn more about his leadership lessons and tenure as an executive leader.

Recent Articles and News

First Ascent: Remote Work in the Wild and an Action-Packed Summer Ahead

June 17, 2025

For remote workers seeking more than a desk and a strong Wi-Fi signal, First Ascent offers something rare: a chance to connect, not just with your job, but with your community, surroundings, and sense of purpose. First Ascent was launched with a clear goal: to help West Virginia keep its brightest minds rooted in the […]

Read Article

Reflections Following Commencement: Imparting Thoughts for the Class of 2025

May 30, 2025

On May 10, 2025, Marshall University hosted its 188th Commencement Exercises at the Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. As I stood on stage watching our nearly 1,500 newest graduates cross with pride, I was struck once again by the power of education, not just to inform, but to transform. From the early […]

Read Article

Leadership the West Virginia Way: Resilience, Purpose, and Service

May 23, 2025

West Virginia has long been defined by its rugged landscapes, deep-rooted communities, and hardworking people. But beyond the coalfields and country roads lies something more enduring: a legacy of leadership shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a powerful sense of purpose. This spirit is embodied in leaders like Brad D. Smith, who was born and raised […]

Read Article

Shining a Light on Student Success with Brite

May 16, 2025

A group of West Virginia University grads is changing how colleges support their students — and the Wing 2 Wing Foundation is proud to support them. Backed by mentorship and funding from the foundation, Brite is a student engagement platform using gamified daily check-ins and AI to surface challenges students face in real time. From mental health struggles to financial stress, Brite empowers universities to respond early and make data-driven changes that improve retention. Already seeing success across West Virginia campuses, the startup is expanding nationwide in Fall 2025.

Read Article

Marshall University Announces Fourth Annual Community Cares Week

May 6, 2025

For the fourth year in a row, Marshall University and its president, Brad D. Smith, are excited to bring back Community Cares Week — an annual giving back initiative that mobilizes volunteers to enhance and tend to the campus as well as surrounding communities. From May 20-23, 2025, the Marshall community will come together yet […]

Read Article

Appalachian Resurgence: How Startups and Education Are Revitalizing the Region

April 14, 2025

Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is a state shaped by grit, elevated by nature, and renewed by opportunity. Once fueled by coal, the Mountain State is now undergoing a powerful transformation—one that honors its roots while investing in a future built on education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This resurgence isn’t merely an economic shift—it’s […]

Read Article

Interested in learning more
about Brad?