Marsh brings more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors to the role.
Michael Marsh, chief operating officer at the Memorial Art Gallery, is joining the President’s Office as chief of staff. University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf announced Marsh’s appointment, which follows a national search. He succeeds Frances Mueller in this role and will start in the President’s Office on March 1.
“I am delighted to welcome Michael to the River Campus to serve as my chief of staff, a role that is essential in advancing the priorities and initiatives of the office and the University,” says Mangelsdorf. “His breadth of experience in both corporate and nonprofit management is quite impressive, and he is a thoughtful strategist and communicator who keenly understands the University. I want to thank the search committee for their time and commitment to filling this important role.”
The chief of staff is a leadership role heavily involved in institutional planning, policy development, and problem resolution in collaboration with the president and other senior leaders. The position is the principal aide to the president and serves as a member of the president’s Senior Leadership Group, Cabinet, and University Management Team. Key responsibilities include managing operations, events, scheduling, staff, and budgets in the Office of the President, and serving as liaison to internal and external groups dealing with a wide range of initiatives and issues.
In July 2022 Marsh was appointed COO at MAG, and in January 2023 he was named as interim director of the museum while a national search for a permanent director was conducted. During a period of 13 months, he successfully served as interim director while dually serving as COO.
Marsh has an accomplished career in both the public and private sectors and brings more than 30 years of experience in business management, organizational development, strategic planning, legal practice, and nonprofit board service to the chief of staff role. He has spent more than 20 years in Rochester, serving in leadership roles and as a litigator at prominent institutions including Eastman Kodak, Nixon Peabody, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. At Kodak, he served as a staff assistant to two Kodak CEOs.
Prior to joining MAG, Marsh served as executive director of Baden Street Settlement, a 120-year old agency that provides essential services for families in Rochester to address social issues of the time. There, he led a successful period of fundraising and established a digital and online presence for the organization that included a revamping of the website.
“I am very excited to work with President Mangelsdorf and the world-class team that she has established to help further the University’s strategic priorities,” says Marsh.
Marsh received a JD from Cornell Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Queens College of the City University of New York.
