Marshall University alumni and community members in the Kanawha Valley will have a chance to meet new President Jerry Gilbert on Monday during a reception at the university's South Charleston campus.
The one-hour event, which starts at 5 p.m. Monday, is open to all Marshall students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Gilbert, the university's 37th president, has been in office for two months. Since coming to Marshall, he's promised to increase faculty pay and improve enrollment.
During a speech to the Rotary Club of Charleston earlier this month, Gilbert said Marshall can have 15,000 students by 2020. Current enrollment is 13,300.
Gilbert also has said he'd like to improve the way Marshall is marketed and that ensuring students have the resources they need to graduate is a priority of his administration.
Gilbert was hired in October and took office in January. He replaced interim President Gary White, who stepped in after the unexpected death of former President Stephen Kopp in 2014.
In November, he signed a two-year contract. He will be paid $430,000 a year.
Before coming to Marshall, Gilbert was provost of Mississippi State University for six years.