Keith A. Marshall, Ph.D., Named New Executive Director

The Big Ten Academic Alliance is delighted to announce that Keith A. Marshall, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new Executive Director, effective June 6, 2017. Headquartered in the Midwest, the Big Ten Academic Alliance is the nation’s preeminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. For more than half a century, these world-class institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served the common good by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs.

Keith comes to us from the University of Illinois where he began his administrative career as the Assistant to the Associate Dean in the College of Applied Health Sciences in 1995 before moving to the Office of the Provost in 1997. During his 19-year tenure in the Provost’s office, Keith served as a Staff Associate, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs, Executive Director of the Campus Center for Advising and Academic Services, and Associate Provost for Enrollment Management.

Currently holding an appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Keith earned a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Illinois, where his dissertation focused on the history of racial identity formation.

In welcoming Marshall, Karen Hanson, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Minnesota and Chair of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, said, "Keith is an accomplished academic administrator, with deep knowledge of one of our member institutions and a broad view of the character, history, and activities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. His leadership, managerial, and interpersonal skills are outstanding, and he has had significant experience with a number of the activities of the consortium. We are confident that he will help us continue to advance the impact and reputation of the Big Ten Academic Alliance."

Keith will succeed Barbara McFadden Allen, who is retiring after 23 years with the organization.