Partners in Purpose
Dr. Jo Marshall has served as a Phi Theta Kappa leader in many capacities — as advisor for the Pi Pi Chapter at Jefferson State Community College for more than 30 years, as Alabama Regional Coordinator, as the Regional Coordinator Representative and vice chair of the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors, and as chair of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees.
Jo has been honored as a Faculty Scholar, a Distinguished Regional Coordinator, and a Giles Distinguished Advisor. She was one of the first recipients of the Mosal Award and is an International Honorary Member of Phi Theta Kappa.
At her side throughout much of her Phi Theta Kappa journey was her late husband, Dr. Scott Marshall. Scott’s role in Phi Theta Kappa was not as formal as his wife’s, but his dedication to the organization was equally strong. His was a familiar face volunteering at convention registration for more than 20 years.
Jo and Scott attended their first Phi Theta Kappa annual convention in 1972, and Jo has hardly missed a convention or an Honors Institute since. Scott attended as many as possible, drawn to the organization because of his wife’s enthusiasm. He said Phi Theta Kappa made the world “a small and friendly place” for students and faculty alike. Jo continues to treasure the friendships they made through their involvement.
Jo was instrumental in developing the Faculty Scholar Conferences to train Honors Institute seminar leaders for their roles and in securing a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide financial support for the program. The Marshalls were among the first to endow an honors lecture, which is now part of the Faculty Scholar Conference.
She also worked to provide development opportunities for chapter advisors as a Leadership Development Certification Program Facilitator and was part of the team that took the program to Singapore.
“The Leadership Program has taught me more than I can ever teach,” Jo said. “It has a ripple effect — every time we certify 20 faculty to teach the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Course, they return to their colleges and spread the program among more and more students.”
In 2012, the Jo Marshall Leadership Award (Marshall Award) was created to encourage the professional growth of Phi Theta Kappa advisors by providing a $5,000 stipend for the completion of a project that leads to personal leadership growth beyond the completion of professional degrees.
“Phi Theta Kappa has opened many doors for me,” Jo said. “Every opportunity I have received in my professional life has been connected to Phi Theta Kappa.”
