Georgian Court University President Joseph Marbach to retire in Summer 2025

Joseph Marbach, president of Georgian Court University announced that he will retire on June 30, 2025. Marbach became the first male and first non-religious president in the private Catholic university’s history when he was appointed to the role July 1, 2015.

“Serving as President of Georgian Court University has been one of the greatest honors of my life. 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,” Marbach said. “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.”

Marbach will also establish the President Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D. Endowed Scholarship, dedicated to supporting students with financial need. This scholarship will create a lasting legacy, helping future generations of GCU students achieve their academic goals.

The Board of Trustees will appoint an interim president to provide leadership at the conclusion of Marbach’s tenure.

Under Marbach’s leadership, Georgian Court has launched nine new undergraduate programs of study including new majors in nursing, finance, health sciences, and sport management. GCU introduced a Psy.D. in School Psychology, the first doctoral degree in the school’s history, and three new Master’s programs: an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communication, a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Social Work.

Adapting quickly to new trends in higher education has been a hallmark of President Marbach’s tenure. In 2015, he announced the name change of the School of Business to the School of Business and Digital Media, reflecting the growing use of digital technology in new product development, business promotions, marketing, and e-commerce.

Since then, Georgian Court has embraced the trend toward local partnerships by formalizing agreements with multiple county and community colleges and seven Catholic high schools throughout the state.

Many of Marbach’s most notable initiatives have focused on the health and well-being of the university community. In 2022, Georgian Court became the first university in New Jersey to allow employees to enroll in a compressed four-day workweek. Later that year, the university became smoke-free and tobacco-free, encouraging healthy habits among students, employees, and campus visitors.

In 2022, he negotiated the sale of 42 acres of primarily unused land to Beth Medrash Govoha, enabling the university to reinvest in its students, faculty, and staff. It was the most significant land deal sale for a New Jersey higher education institution in the last decade.

As president, Marbach has prioritized the needs of Georgian Court students. In 2023, GCU created the “GCU Promise” program, providing additional support to first-year and transfer students in financial need to make a college education a reality. Earlier this year, Georgian Court was the first university in the state to extend its deposit deadline due to complications with the FAFSA. Today, Georgian Court continues to be recognized as a preferred destination for transfer students, veterans, and servicemembers.