How Marshall University Prepares Future Leaders Through Programs and Service Opportunities

Staff  •  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 strengthen their communities. At Marshall, students learn that leadership is defined by impact on others just as much as it is by personal achievement.

Let’s dive into some of the many Marshal programs and service opportunities initiated by Brad that prepare students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Marshall For All

Marshall for All provides students with a pathway to graduate without debt. By combining scholarships, financial aid, and meaningful work opportunities, the program removes one of the most significant barriers to higher education – allowing students to start their leadership journey sooner.

The Cabell Commitment Plan

The Cabell Commitment Plan is a powerful initiative that guarantees automatic acceptance to Marshall University for any graduating senior who maintains a GPA of 2.5 or higher, with no application required. By investing directly in its local community and covering tuition gaps for graduates of Cabell County high schools, Marshall is building a pipeline of future leaders that reinforces the university’s commitment to place-based opportunity.

The Brad D. Smith Student Incubator

Housed in Marshall’s iCenter, the Brad D. Smith Student Incubator provides young entrepreneurs mentorship, resources, and space to turn their ideas into viable businesses. The incubator reflects Brad’s belief that students learn best by doing. Students gain hands-on experience in pitching, prototyping, and launching ventures, while learning the leadership skills that will serve them in any career.

The Presidential Task Force on AI

Preparing students for the future means meeting them where the world is headed, not where it has been. Nowhere is that commitment clearer than in Marshall’s bold approach to artificial intelligence (AI). As co-chair of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Education, Brad brings together voices from education and business to design a roadmap for how AI will shape classrooms and the workforce. Under Brad’s guidance, the university launched the Presidential Task Force on AI to chart a responsible path for using generative AI in teaching, learning, and research.

Leadership Through Service

At Marshall, service is seen as essential to leadership. Brad believes leadership is about purpose. Drawing from his Appalachian upbringing and global business experience, he models leadership rooted in service, creativity, and perseverance. Here are two examples of service programs that fuel leadership.

Community Cares Week

Each year, Community Cares Week mobilizes students, faculty, and community members to complete service projects across the region. From revitalizing public spaces to supporting nonprofits, the program teaches students that leadership is as much about service as it is about vision.

First Ascent

Through First Ascent, Marshall connects students and alumni to opportunities that foster entrepreneurship, mentorship, and community integration in West Virginia. By contributing to the state’s economic and cultural revitalization, students see firsthand that leadership is about the impact they create for others.

Shaping Marshall’s Next Chapter

At Marshall, leadership is more than a skill; it’s a responsibility. Leadership is about leaving things better than you found them. That spirit defines Marshall today and will guide its next century.

Keep up with Brad’s ongoing initiatives and the latest happenings at Marshall by following Brad on X and Instagram or checking out his YouTube.