This article examines the activities of the directors of the Mari State Pedagogical Institute named after N.K. Krupskaya in the first decade of the university's functioning, which turned out to be the most difficult in the his-tory of the university. The opening of the pedagogical university was an important event in the history of the re-gion. On the topic under consideration, the question of those people who stood at the origins of higher education in the republic, headed the university in the first years of its formation, is relevant. Purpose: to study the activi-ties of the first leaders of the Pedagogical Institute in the difficult years of its formation, to determine their or-ganizational role in creating a system of higher professional education in the region. The work is based on the use of published materials and documents preserved in the archive of the Mari State University, which allow us to recreate a holistic picture of the activities of the first directors of the Pedagogical Institute, to determine their role in the formation of the first university in the republic. The methodological basis of the research is based on the principle of historicism. The factual material of the article is revealed by means of problem-chronological and historical-biographical methods, which allow presenting a consistent and complete presentation of the events and phenomena characterized. The first directors had to solve complex issues related to the creation of the material and technical base of the university, the formation of a permanent teaching staff of the institute, the training of highly qualified personnel, the recruitment of students, etc. The first decade of the institute's op-eration was characterized by a frequent change of university leaders. There was a special nomenclature order of personnel appointments in the country: candidates for the most important posts and positions were approved by party and Soviet bodies. In conditions of an acute shortage of personnel capable of implementing the policy of the leadership, they were often transferred to different areas of work. The formation of the Pedagogical Insti-tute took place in the conditions of the growth of the next round of repressive policy, which was reflected in the history of the provincial university. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that working in diffi-cult conditions, the first directors of the Mari State Pedagogical Institute tried to honestly fulfill their official du-ties and solve the tasks set by the government. In the early years, the institute experienced organizational diffi-culties. The material base was being formed, premises for classes and accommodation of students were being sought. The young university was being recruited by the teaching staff and service personnel.