Michael Martin, sole finalist for the University’s chancellor position, is in Baton Rouge this week to meet with the LSU and Baton Rouge community.
The Chancellor Search Committee met Tuesday to hold its first in-person interview of Martin.
Martin, president of New Mexico State University, told the Committee he would not be in Baton Rouge if he was not serious about taking the job.
The Committee’s questions to Martin focused on four subjects – diversity, faculty, fundraising and student life.
Martin said during his time at NMSU, he brought a more diverse faculty to reflect the demographics of the college and the state of New Mexico.
“There is no majority [at NMSU], yet the profile of the faculty and administration did not reflect the profile of the student body or the state,” Martin said. “I’ve worked hard, and our crew has worked very hard to pull more diverse people into more important roles.”
Martin said they went out and actively recruited Native American faculty and changed the core group of his administration – three senior vice presidents – to reflect the school’s demographics.
“Diversity is part of a commitment to excellence,” Martin said.
Kevin Cope, faculty senate president, asked Martin if he has a plan to cultivate the faculty leadership at LSU.
Martin said he is a leading advocate for the Fellows Program, a program sponsored by the American Council of Education that enables participants to immerse themselves in the culture and processes of institutions.
“I’m very much committed to growing the next generation,” Martin said. “I will continue to do that, wherever I am.”
Douglas McMillin, economics professor, asked Martin how he will allocate the University’s funds if they were to be permanently increased.
“Where can we invest that LSU has a comparative advantage that will give it national recognition?” Martin responded. “That’s one of those conversations that require a great deal more dialogue.”
Colorado Robertson, student government president, told Martin the Forever LSU campaign will end in roughly two years and asked what Martin’s ideas and goals are to increase fundraising and endowments.
“Before you can fundraise, you have to ‘friend-raise,'” Martin said. “You have to have a well-defined story that causes people to believe that they are betting on a winner.”
Martin said the most important thing about fundraising is to prove to the people who have already donated that they got what they paid for.
Cherie Teamer, LSU Student Union Board chair, told Martin about how students are concerned about not graduating in four years and asked what he would do to help.
“One of the things we’ve done successfully at NMSU is that we track much better,” Martin said. “If we have a better system of actually knowing where you are, we’ll be better to get you to [graduate].”
Martin said NMSU has invested more into work-study programs.
“If you have to work, work-study on campus gets you much more success than working off-campus,” Martin said.
Martin has been in Baton Rouge since Monday afternoon, and he said his first impression is that it is a vibrant community and a beautiful campus.
“People seem to enjoy the campus, and I like that,” Martin said.
He also said if he gets the job as chancellor, LSU will be his last stop.
Martin is scheduled to hold his exit interview with the committee Wednesday at 4 p.m. The committee will then meet Friday at 9:30 a.m. to decide whether to recommend Martin to LSU System President John Lombardi.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]