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

How Marshall University Prepares Future Leaders Through Programs and Service Opportunities

October 2, 2025

At Marshall University, preparing students for leadership roles goes beyond just academics. Under President Brad D. Smith’s guidance, the university has created opportunities that blend innovation, affordability, entrepreneurship, and service. Students grow their skills in emerging fields like AI, test new ideas in the Brad D. Smith Student Incubator, and give back through initiatives that […]

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Marshall For All Receives Record $50 Million Donation

September 16, 2025

President Brad D. Smith and First Lady Alys Smith committed a historic $50 million donation to Marshall University – the largest ever from a sitting university president to their own institution. The contribution advances Marshall For All, a program spearheaded by President Smith to eliminate student debt, leveling the playing field for West Virginia and Appalachian students while setting a new national standard in higher education.

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Public Trust, Civic Engagement, and the Future of West Virginia: A Discussion With Secretary of State Kris Warner

August 22, 2025

In an age shaped by innovation, integrity, and rapid change, civic leadership matters more than ever.  So, what does it mean to serve in today’s world? That question anchored Brad D. Smith’s recent conversation with West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner. As part of Warner’s “Just Three Questions” series — which centers on resources […]

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President Brad D. Smith Kicks Off the Fall 2025 Semester With a Message of Encouragement

August 11, 2025

Marshall University President Brad D. Smith welcomed incoming fall 2025 students to campus with a message of encouragement and connection. He urged students to embrace academics and campus life, highlighting the importance of mentorship, involvement, and community building. Smith also celebrated the arrival of new athletic leadership and encouraged students to seize opportunities that will shape their future. “Welcome home—let’s make this year unforgettable,” noted Brad.

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Marshall University Board of Directors 2025-26 Meeting: Growth, Education, and Innovation

August 5, 2025

At its August 2025 meeting, the Marshall University Board of Governors reviewed preparations for the new academic year and received encouraging enrollment news from President Brad D. Smith. Preliminary figures suggest a third consecutive year of growth, with overall enrollment rising 15% since 2022. Leaders also discussed housing availability, campus improvements, and new academic initiatives. Updates included the athletic momentum under new director Gerald Harrison and the swearing-in of student and staff representatives.

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Leadership and Legacy Shine at 2025 NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit

July 28, 2025

The Seventh Annual NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit united athletes, coaches, and business leaders to share lessons in leadership and service inspired by Bill Campbell’s legacy. Brad D. Smith joined speakers Pat Gelsinger, Ronnie Lott, Andrew Luck, and others to discuss how sports foster resilience, teamwork, and purpose beyond the field. The three-day event featured workshops, panels, and mentorship for 300 student-athletes from 143 colleges.

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