Carol Hurula

Current job title and the basics of what your job entails?

I serve as director of Academic Business Affairs here at Marshall University. I provide strategic and operational leadership supporting the provost and senior vice president, with broad oversight of strategic operations, personnel, finance and academic initiatives. I also serve as key liaison across departments, colleges and external partners, to provide strategic direction, communication, training, and services.

Other responsibilities include leading and managing academic personnel processes - recruitment documents, hiring documents, faculty promotion and tenure, faculty awards, retirements, and appointments. I oversee budget planning, and compliance for Academic Affairs including research grant proposals, and participate in collaborations between the provost's office and university committees to advance student success, policy development, and institutional goals, among other efforts.

Career background:

I started working full-time at Marshall on July 19, 1999, and have spent almost my entire career in the Office of Academic Affairs. I have worked under the leadership of six inspiring provosts during my 26-year career and a host of colleagues.

A couple years into working, I then began taking classes and completing a portfolio of my prior career experience to earn the RBA. At that time, Associate Provost Frances Hensley and Provost Sarah Denman were mentors in the office, and Frances bought my cap and gown as a birthday gift that fall, as I was not planning on attending graduation - and how could I then say no?

I am so glad I attended. It is something I'll never forget. My daughter, a 2019 nursing graduate, then wore the same cap and gown. I think we overlook how simple things make such a big impact and a memory that lasts forever.

Prior to working at Marshall, I worked at Lowe's Companies as office/credit manager.

How did your time at Marshall help prepare you for your career? Are you glad you chose Marshall, and why?

Marshall was more than my university - it was my proving ground. While earning my degree, I had the unique opportunity to work at Marshall, which gave me a front-row seat to the inner workings of higher education. Balancing academics with professional responsibilities taught me how to manage complexity, communicate across departments, and stay grounded under pressure. I wasn't just learning theory in the classroom - I was living it every day.

That dual experience shaped my career in ways I couldn't have imagined. It gave me a deep appreciation for institutional mission, a strong work ethic, and the confidence to lead with both heart and strategy. Marshall didn't just prepare me for the next step - it helped me define it.

Were there any scholarships, mentors or opportunities that were instrumental in your choosing Marshall?

Sometimes the right people show up at just the right time. Before I ever stepped foot on campus as an employee, I met Sherri Noble - someone who saw potential in me. She encouraged me to apply for a position at Marshall, believing my skills would be a perfect fit. We hit it off immediately, and that conversation became the first step in a life-changing journey.

Once I joined Marshall, even though I hadn't yet completed my degree, I was surrounded by mentors who believed in me. The provost and associate provost were incredibly supportive, encouraging me to pursue my education. Thanks to the Classified Staff Council, I had access to a tuition waiver that made the decision a no-brainer. It wasn't just about opportunity - it was about being seen, supported and empowered.

Favorite Marshall experiences, as a student and as an employee?

As a student, one of the most meaningful experiences was receiving the invitation to join the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all- discipline honor society, and membership is extended only to the top academic performers across all fields of study. Having completed my degree later in life, that recognition was more than just an honor - it was a deeply rewarding affirmation of perseverance, growth and academic excellence. It reminded me that it's never too late to achieve something extraordinary.

As an employee, being chosen by my peers to represent them was one of the greatest honors of my career. One of my most memorable and humbling experiences was being elected by my colleagues to serve as their representative to the Marshall University Board of Governors for four, two-year terms. Knowing that my peers placed their confidence in me - trusting me to be their voice at the highest level of university governance - was both affirming and deeply motivating. It wasn't just a title. It was a responsibility I carried with pride, always striving to reflect the values, concerns and hopes of the staff who make Marshall thrive every day.

Can you tell us what you're passionate about?

"If she can do that, why can't I?" That's the motto I live by. I'm passionate about living fully, which, to me, means never being afraid to try something new, even if it's wildly outside my comfort zone. Whether it's joining a university committee to research policy impacts or watching a YouTube video and convincing my husband we could install an in-ground pool (yes, really), I believe in saying yes to possibility. We did leave the concrete finishing to the experts - but the rest? We tackled it ourselves. That experience taught me that courage and curiosity can be just as powerful as credentials. It's not about being fearless - it's about being willing to learn, to try and to trust that growth comes from doing.

At work, this mindset has led me to take on roles I never imagined, ask questions that matter, and contribute to meaningful change. At home, it's turned ordinary weekends into adventures. What people might not realize is how empowering it is to say, "I can figure this out." That belief has shaped who I am - and it's something I hope inspires others to take their own leap. It's not about being fearless - it's about being willing. And that willingness has helped me build a life that's full of purpose, creativity and connection.

What have you learned through your career and life experiences that is worth passing on?

Growth doesn't have a deadline, and leadership doesn't require a title. Learning doesn't stop when the diploma is earned - or even when the job title changes. You don't have to have all the answers to make a difference, you just have to be willing to try, to listen and to care deeply about the people and purpose around you.

You've been part of Marshall for over two decades - what's one change in the university that you're most proud to have witnessed or contributed to?

This is a hard question - so much has changed, and so much progress has been made. But if I had to name one defining shift, it would be the transformation under the leadership of President Brad D. Smith. He placed shared governance at the heart of our daily mission. That wasn't just a structural change - it was a cultural one. Brad inspired us to dream bigger, deliver faster, and define excellence in everything we do. His leadership has been a catalyst for collaboration, innovation and purpose-driven action.

What stands out most is the way every policy, event, and update is now deeply student-centered. Students aren't just part of the conversation - they are the reason for it. They are our purpose, our future. And that clarity of mission has made all the difference.