John Marsh

Mr. Marsh has had a wide-ranging career, as a teacher, writer, museum director, and business owner. Teaching has been his greatest passion for over 30 years. He joined the Academy faculty in 2006, and absolutely loves working with these amazing students. His previous teaching experience was at the college level, and he still teaches a night class for Ball State University. Over the years, he has taught American History, West in the World, History of World Religions, World Civilizations, Public History, Government, Economics and Religious Studies.

Mr. Marsh was the recipient of the inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award, the President’s Award for outstanding instructor at the Academy, and a Teacher Creativity Fellowship from Lilly Endowment. He was chosen by the Academy students to receive the Dean Roy Weaver Award, and was also selected twice by Ball State students for a University Professorship Teaching Award. His History of World Religions course is a favorite at the Academy, and his May Term courses are creative, interactive projects such as the construction of ancient Egyptian tombs, famous prehistoric caves, the Bayeux Tapestry, and an escape room.

Mr. Marsh and his wife, Jenni, write comedy plays together. In 2014, their play, Fixing Up, won the McLaren Comedy Playwriting Festival. Mr. Marsh has also written a book of comedic short stories titled The Comic Misadventures of Bitsy, and co-authored a musical play which was produced in Branson, Missouri, where he served as Vice-President of Marketing and Production for the theatre, and performed as on-stage host. Other writing endeavors include a stint as an op-ed columnist for the Indianapolis News, and writing articles for various history publications.

From 1995-2006, Mr. Marsh was the Executive Director of the Grissom Air Museum. During his tenure, the historic aircraft collection and educational programs grew substantially, while annual visitation tripled. Early in his career, Mr. Marsh founded a burglar and fire alarm company in Muncie which he operated for seven years. He has a business degree from Indiana University, and a master’s degree in history from Ball State University.

John Marsh News

• Fixing Up by Mr. Marsh at Muncie Civic Theatre
• Academy Instructors Receive Lilly Endowment Fellowships
• Academy Instructor Premieres New Play
• Teaching During a Pandemic – a Century Ago by Mr. John Marsh
• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• John Marsh Named Recipient of Inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award
• Explore the “Cave of Time” at the Indiana Academy
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants