Dancing with the Herd - Justin & Sydnee

Justin McElroy - Marshall University Student Emergency Fund Justin is an eight-time New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and voice actor. He is known for lending his voice to projects like Trolls World Tour and Big City Greens, co-founding Polygon, and co-creating hit audio series including My Brother, My Brother and Me and The Adventure Zone. He is a proud graduate of Marshall University, where he earned his BFA in Acting and Directing. He is also a father to two kids, two cats, and a bearded dragon.

Sydnee Smirl McElroy, MD, is a family physician with Valley Health Systems, medical director for Harmony House, and New York Times best-selling author. A Yeager alum and graduate of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, she specializes in primary care, harm reduction, and expanding healthcare access for individuals experiencing homelessness. Alongside her clinical practice and community advocacy, she co-hosts the medical history podcast Sawbones. She lives in Huntington with her husband and two daughters.

Dancing with the Herd is a student-led, fundraising event, planned within the Honors College and presented by Marshall Health Network, where famous Marshall University couples and groups perform choreographed routines while raising money for student-centered funds at the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. We have partnered with the Marshall Contemporary Dance Company, and each couple has been paired with a team of student or faculty choreographers to bring their performance to life. During the event, a panel of judges will provide feedback and scores. The winners of The Marco Mirrorball Trophy will be determined using a rubric that weighs both the judges’ scores and the total amount of money raised. Your donation directly supports the participating couples and the student-focused causes they champion. 

The event will take place on Friday, November 20, 2026, in the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. For additional information, please contact Connor Waller at waller45@marshall.edu or Piper Cook at cookpi@marshall.edu.