Marsha Kelliher
President and CEO of Walsh College
Marsha Kelliher is the daughter of Raymond S. Cox, Jr. and Joan Cox Robinson. Both of her parents were the first in their families to earn a college degree and both were dedicated teachers who left inspiring legacies. She was fortunate to grow up in a household that was full of music and where education was valued.
Marsha earned a LL.M. in Labor and Employment Law from the University of San Diego and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law. Her Bachelors degree is from Indiana University. She is licensed and has practiced law in both Texas and California. In 2013 Marsha was admitted into the prestigious National Academy of Arbitrators.
A self-described "recovering attorney," Marsha vowed not to follow in her parents' footsteps and is thankful that her Mother had the joy of living to see Marsha transition from law to education.
Marsha began her career in the Consulting Department of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, & Co. in 1982. While working fulltime, Marsha enrolled in law school, attending most of her classes at night and on weekends, so she understands the challenges faced by the majority of Walsh College students.
She joined the ranks of academia in 1994 and in 1998 she was named as the Interim Dean of the MBA program at St. Edward's University. From 2000-2004 she served as the Dean of the Graduate School of Management and from 2004-2013 she oversaw the University's graduate and undergraduate business programs. Under her leadership six new domestic majors and six domestic graduate programs were launched. She expanded international partnerships, which resulted in two undergraduate dual degree programs, an undergraduate minor, a graduate joint degree program, and an international bridge program.
In 2013 Marsha was appointed as the Dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business at Susquehanna University. At Susquehanna, she led the School's reaffirmation of AACSB accreditation, launched a Women's Leadership Symposium, and oversaw the creation of new majors. The School now boasts 12 Bloomberg terminals and students are gaining real-world experience by managing an investment fund. Through the re-design of the School's program in London, beginning in the fall of 2017, the London experience began including international internships for all participants.
Kelliher frequently presents at conferences and she has served on AACSB peer-review teams. She is active in the community serving on boards and committees for governmental, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Senator Gonzalo Barrientos presented her with a Texas flag for her service to the Austin community in 2004. Marsha received a Peacemaker Award from the Austin Dispute Resolution Center in 2011. She was named as a Women of Influence by the Austin Business Journal in 2011 and was nominated for an Austin Business Journal Profile in Power Award in 2004. She is a 2004 Leadership Texas graduate. In fall of 2002 she was named the YWCA Woman of the Year in Education.
Marsha is especially thankful for the loving support of her husband, David Kelliher, Ph.D., who has inspired her every day of their 25 year marriage.