Matt James

A True Son Of Marshall Tapped To Lead The Muaa

Alumni are the lifeblood of any institution of higher learning.

They are the givers. They are the doers. They are the true hands and feet of a university, helping better their communities through the degrees they earn and helping better their alma mater through action.

Therefore, it only stands to reason that the person heading up an alumni program have certain traits that helps them have more of a connection with those dedicated alums, while also possessing a willingness to educate and work side by side with students that make up the future alumni population.

At Marshall University, there is none that fits that bill better than Matt James.

Named the new executive director of alumni relations at Marshall University in the fall of 2022, James has hit the ground running as only he can. A decorated former student, a caring advocate for the student population and an alumnus with green-and-white credentials that are hard to equal, this Bluefield, West Virgina, native and two-time graduate is ready to shake up the alumni program at Marshall and grow it like never before.

“I like to say that I fell in love with Marshall and at Marshall, having met my wife, Sara, during our freshman year. Specifically, I fell in love with MU and never left, having spent exactly half of my life here over the past 19 years as a student and staff member,” James said. “The impact Marshall University has made on my life is immeasurable. I’ll never be able to pay back everything this school has given to me over the last two decades. Marshall is a special place, but it’s the people who make it so special.”

James’ ties to his alma mater are unmatched. A southern West Virginia transplant, he came to Marshall in 2004 as a student and simply never left. In his own words, he fell in love with a special campus that quickly became his second home.

“Coming from southern West Virginia, I always aspired to attend Virginia Tech. As a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so VT’s vet school seemed like a natural fit being so close in proximity to my hometown,” James said. “However, during a high school recruiting fair, I met someone from Marshall who invited me to visit Huntington. From the moment I stepped foot on our campus, it felt like home. The rest is history.”

James transitions into his new role after many years as both a faculty and staff member on campus working with the current student population. After beginning his postgraduate career as a graduate assistant, James moved into his first professional role as a student resource specialist and academic advisor for undecided students. From there, he was promoted to assistant dean of students in 2015, a role in which he had an opportunity to oversee multiple areas of the university, including Student Activities, Student Involvement and Leadership, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Military and Veterans Affairs and Intercultural and International Student Affairs.

During that time, James had an opportunity to mold student programs under the leadership of four different university presidents.

“My career path began during my undergraduate years when I was elected student body president,” James said. “That role provided me with access and opportunities that ultimately shifted my career focus from pharmacy to higher education administration to where I am today.

“Having worked with so many students, I can say that the most rewarding aspect is observing their professional growth and development. Often, working in Student Affairs, we were present for the highest of highs and lowest of lows for students; and mentoring those students to overcome obstacles was especially rewarding during my time as assistant dean of students. Thankfully, I’ve been able to maintain my role as an adjunct faculty member for the Honors College and I serve as an advisor to the Student Government Association. Both roles allow me to maintain contact with students, which feeds my passion for student development.”

When he was a student himself, James was crowned Mr. Marshall in 2007 and was elected student body president for 2008-09. He would go on to earn two degrees from the university, including a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2009 and a master’s in school counseling in 2011.

“I’ll never forget walking out on the football field during Homecoming my senior year with both of my parents and being crowned Mr. Marshall. That is a memory I will cherish with my family forever,” James said. “I’ll also never forget the countless experiences and people I met during my time serving as student body president. I have been blessed by so many impactful mentors during my time at Marshall. There are many who have made a significant impact on me, both personally and professionally.”

James credits his student experience as one of his biggest strengths when connecting to alumni, pledging to help bridge the gap between the young alumni population and previous generations.

“My heart will always be with the students; however, I saw an opportunity to contribute to my alma mater in new and meaningful ways,” James said. “Having spent the past several years in student affairs administration, joining the Marshall Foundation family was a leap of faith. But it has been a breath of fresh air. We have so much potential to expand alumni efforts to Herd Nation around the world. Under the leadership of President (Brad D.) Smith, and with the support of the Foundation and the exciting momentum surrounding athletics, we are poised for a very bright future.”

Already hitting the ground running, James has a number of priorities he is setting for the new look of the alumni relations department, including growing the alumni chapter network and helping grow the student population through student recruitment.

“First and foremost, we are rebuilding our alumni chapters around the world. The pandemic was detrimental to many programs, but especially difficult for our alumni chapters. After [I assumed] this position in October, our alumni and Foundation team wasted little time facilitating the growth and cultivation of multiple alumni and affinity chapters,” James said. “We are also working closely to support President Smith’s vision and priorities, specifically to grow enrollment, build scholarships, and provide mentorship and employment opportunities for our students and alumni. Lastly, I feel compelled to identify fresh and innovative ways to engage our young alumni population beyond donorship. We are in the process of strategically planning new initiatives and programs to grow our young alumni network and celebrate their accomplishments.”

James currently lives in Huntington with his wife, Sara, and their daughter, Saylor. They have two “wiener” dogs, Chip and Charlie. James is a passionate animal advocate, supporting abused and abandoned dogs at his local animal shelter.

So what message does James want to leave with alumni eager to get involved in this new era of alumni engagement?

“If you bleed green or feel called to strengthen your bond with the alumni community, give me a call and let’s make it happen,” James said. “It is a special time to be a member of the Marshall family. The best is truly yet to come, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”