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Dr. Joseph Marbach announced he'll step down as head of the private Catholic college in Lakewood on Monday, June 30, 2025. He's also the first non-clergy member to be president of Georgian Court.
Dr. Marbach said he'll establish a scholarship in his name for students in financial need, "helping future generations of GCU students achieve their academic goals."
"Serving as President of Georgian Court University has been one of the greatest honors of my life," Dr. Marbach said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to the university community—including our faculty, staff, students, and alumni—for everything they’ve done to make the past nine years so rewarding.
"Although I am approaching retirement, my work at Georgian Court is not finished. Over the next year, I will continue to support the university’s strategic and academic growth and work closely with the community to fulfill our mission and commitment to our students."
Dr. Marbach became Georgian Court's president on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. GCU was founded as a women's college in 1908 and became coeducational in 2013.
The university started nine new undergraduate programs in Dr. Marbach's tenure, including majors in nursing, finance, health sciences, and sport management. He also helped launch GCU's first doctorate program, a Psy.D. in school psychology, and three new master's programs.
Dr. Marbach also oversaw Georgian Court's move to an optional four-day workweek for employees and its adoption of smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies in 2022.
"Having served for a dozen years as a university president, I can testify first-hand that it is not a job for the 'faint of heart,'" said Bishop David O'Connell from the Diocese of Trenton. "The average term is 5.9 years and is filled with all kinds of challenges. For the last ten years, Dr. Joseph Marbach has led Georgian Court University admirably and well as the only Catholic university located in the Diocese of Trenton.
"As he concludes his tenure here, I express much gratitude for his service and prayerful good wishes for his future endeavors."
Dr. Marbach also negotiated the 2022 sale of 42 acres of mostly vacant land to neighboring Beth Medrash Govoha, the second-largest yeshiva in the world. GCU called it the most significant land deal for a New Jersey college in the past decade.
Dr. Marbach also created the "GCU Promise" program in 2023 to provide more financial aid for first-year and transfer students.
"Under Dr. Marbach’s leadership, Georgian Court has thrived and grown in significant ways," said Sister Michele Aronica, chair of GCU's board of trustees. "It has been an honor to work alongside him, and I am truly thankful for his many contributions to our community. I am especially grateful for Dr. Marbach’s careful consideration of the transition process, which will ensure minimal disruption to the university."
Dr. Marbach graduated magna cum laude from La Salle University in 1983. He stayed in Philadelphia to earn his master's and doctorate degrees in political science from Temple University in 1986 and 1993.
Before his tenure at GCU, Dr. Marbach became provost and vice president for academic affairs at La Salle. He was also once a dean of the arts and sciences college and a chair of the political science department at Seton Hall University.
GCU said its board of trustees will appoint an interim president when Dr. Marbach retires as it searches for a permanent replacement.
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