Marshall R. Topham was born and raised in Cedar City, Utah. He earned his Bachelors of Science (BS) degree at Southern Utah University with a major in Zoology and minors in Botany and Chemistry. He was recruited by the University of Hawaii in Honolulu HI where he serves as a graduate research assistant. He earned his master’s degree. His love for the desert and teaching brought him back to Nevada, then Arizona and now Utah.
Marshall earned a second Masters degree from Utah State University in Education Administration. An educator by profession, he taught and coached for twenty years and then served in school administration for another twenty years. He taught Advanced Placement (AP) Biology and AP Human Anatomy and Physiology. He has served as assistant principal and principal of Pine View High School, and as associate superintendent over secondary schools in Washington County School District in St. George, Utah. Marshall is currently an adjunct professor at Dixie State University (now Utah Tech) teaching Environmental Science 1010.
In addition to his employment Marshall has also been very active in community affairs. He served as the local biologist on the committee that created the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan in the early 1990’s. He served as a member of the “Technical Advisory Committee” for the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve for 20 years. He has also a cofounder and has served on the Board of Directors for both Success Academy and Get Outside Corporation, a 501-C3 corporation that provides opportunity for youth to engage in outdoor activities and learn environmental ethics.
Over the years Marshall has served as a member of a number of “Advisory Boards” to include The SUU Science Department Advisory Board, The Intermountain Health Care Building Board, The Snow Canyon Master Plan Development Board, and The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Game Management Board, among others.
