HowStuffWorks founder Marshall Brain sent final email before sudden death

Brandon Kashani, a former student of Brain’s and startup mentor at NC State’s entrepreneurship clinic, recalled to the Technician about how he met with Brain on November 15. “He felt like his reputation was tarnished, like everything he worked for was ruined, and the root of all that was he didn’t get any support from the University,” Kashani told the newspaper.

In his email, Brain wrote that the school’s head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering later informed him the department would stop recommending students for Brain’s Engineering Entrepreneurs Program. According to Brain’s account, this led to disciplinary action against Brain for “unacceptable behavior.”

“My career has been destroyed by multiple administrators at NCSU who united together and completely ignored the EthicsPoint System and its promises to employees,” Brain wrote. “I did what the University told me to do, and then these administrators ruined my life for it.”

Unanswered questions remain

In recent years, Brain directed NC State’s Engineering Entrepreneurs Program, where he mentored students and supported innovation in Research Triangle Park.

So far, Brain’s death on campus has come as a shock to students and colleagues. Dror Baron, an NCSU professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, wrote on X, “A professor I know died following various investigations. I know the people mentioned here, and call for a transparent and independent investigation.”

So far, that investigation has not been forthcoming. University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski declined to comment to The Technician about Brain’s death or the allegations. To date, the university has not issued a public statement about Brain’s death.

Barry and Kashani expressed disappointment in the university’s lack of public response. “It’s been six days now,” Kashani said at the time to the school newspaper. “There hasn’t been any acknowledgment of mistakes that were made, systems that failed, no resignations, not even a call to celebrate Marshall’s achievements.”

Brain’s friends and family plan to celebrate his achievements. His wife, Leigh Ann, their four children—David, Irena, Johnny, and Ian—and family dog Summer survive him. The family will host a Celebration of Life on December 8, 2024, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, North Carolina.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or in distress, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which will put you in touch with a local crisis center.