Joseph Sol Marcus arrived at UMass in 1948 as an Instructor in Civil Engineering and graduate student (MS 1954), just as the University was beginning a large scale expansion and reorganization of its engineering programs. Born in Oct. 29, 1921, Marcus received his undergraduate education in chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic College (BS 1944) before serving a three year tour in the Navy at the tail end of the Second World War.

While studying for his masters degree in civil engineering, Marcus assumed responsibility for the fluid mechanics laboratory and taught courses in both civil and mechanical engineering, foreshadowing some of the versatility he would demonstrate throughout his career. Climbing up the academic ranks over the next fifteen years, Marcus took a series of courses offered by the Atomic Energy Commission and spent a year's leave in 1962 working as a Research Engineer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratories. With this preparation, and with his research turned toward nuclear engineering, Marcus introduced nuclear engineering into the UMass curriculum and he became the principle investigator on three major grants from the AEC and co-director of AEC-NECEP workshops on nuclear power.

Rising to become Assistant (later Associate) Dean of the School of Engineering in 1964, Marcus became an active presence in university administration, serving as preceptor for Emily Dickinson House on Orchard Hill, becoming a staunch proponent of residential college concept; Chair of the Faculty Senate; and Special Assistant to the Chancellor for long-range planning. He was also a key member of the committees for military affairs, engineering honors, transfers and admissions, discipline, and Continuing Education, among others. Always engaged with students and interested in raising the position of future engineers, he was deeply involved in educational initiatives in the Commonwealth, helping to direct two National Science Foundation Institutes for high school science teachers (1968, 1969) and serving on the accrediting boards of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (1969-1971).

In recognition of his commitment to students, Marcus was recognized with the Metawampe Award and Distinguished Teaching Award in the 1960s, and in 1984, he received the Chancellor's Medal for "exemplary and extraordinary service." Marcus died of cancer on Nov. 1, 1985, shortly after his retirement. Marcus Hall was named in his honor.