Howard Justus McGinnis (April 4, 1882 – August 26, 1971) was an interim president of East Carolina Teachers College, now called East Carolina University. The McGinnis Theater at East Carolina University is named in his honor.

Howard Justus McHinnis was born on April 4, 1882, in Kanawha River (Gilmer County), West Virginia . He attended the Glenville State College and the West Virginia University, where he majored in science. In 1927, McGinnis obtained a Ph.D. from George Peabody College.

He was hired as a psychology professor at East Carolina Teachers College. He was named acting president in 1944 upon the retirement of Leon Renfroe Meadows and served until August 1946.

• East Carolina University Icons Gallery profile Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
• Records of Howard Justus McGinnis' Tenure Interim President of East Carolina Teachers College, 1944-1946. UA02-03. University Archives, East Carolina University
• McGinnis Theater at East Carolina University Archived 2010-04-18 at the Wayback Machine