Vice President of Student Services John Marshall came to Mesa State in 1997 from Broomfield on a football scholarship. He was recruited by Coach Jay Hood and he fell in love with the place.
“MSC is different in a lot of ways, but it’s similar to the institution that MSC is now,” Marshall said. “For instance some of my favorite faculty members are still here, like Dr. Redifer, and Dr. Casey. I knew it was the right place because they took an interest in me.”
Marshall enjoyed the attention he received from his professors. Marshall said he excelled because of his professors pushing him to do well. He said he was better prepared for graduate school at University of Colorado.
Like many students, Marshall also liked social interaction. He met his wife in a biology class at MSC.
Marshall said that being a former student and current faculty member is similar because he has a lot of the same connections throughout campus.
“I enjoy being a part of a team that is all bought into the same vision,” Marshall said.
Marshall went through a national search to get his current job title, but he started out as part of the Development office working to raise money for the college.
“I got to experience it first hand and it’s natural to sell the school,” Marshall said. “I love selling this institution because I am a believer in that it works.”
Marshall recalls the time he arrived at his basketball game wearing a nice suit because he had just left an ASG meeting. The coach looked down the bench and said, “This is the first time I have seen a student miss a game because of student government.”
“It meant a lot to me to be involved in everything I could,” Marshall said.
Marshall advises today’s students to do the same.
“Those who finished strong and those who were good students were all involved,” Marshall said. “Those who were involved had relationships, and more commitment on campus. Those are the times you look back on and enjoy.”
Another piece of advice from Marshall is to obtain an internship. “The thing that really made a difference for me is having an internship because it impacted me for a semester being in the real work force.”
“I am glad to be a part of this institution,” Marshall said.

blofton@mesastate.edu