Theresa “Terry” Martinez, a student affairs professional with more than 25 years of experience in small, medium and large school settings, has been named vice president and dean of students at Hamilton College where she will report to the president and serve as a member of the senior staff.
Martinez is currently associate vice provost and dean of students at The Johns Hopkins University. Her appointment is effective August 1. She will succeed Nancy Thompson, who is retiring after serving 31 years in the Division of Student Life.
“Throughout her career, Terry Martinez has consistently demonstrated an effective and collaborative leadership style,” said President David Wippman. “She is a thoughtful and strategic thinker, a staunch advocate for students, and a successful manager and team builder. I look forward to working with her.”
Martinez said she is already anticipating her new appointment.
“I am thrilled that I will be joining the Hamilton community and look forward to working with the incredible staff and faculty members to continue enhancing the student experience during this exciting moment in the college’s history,” she said. “It will be wonderful getting to know students and partnering with them to learn about their experiences, challenges and traditions.”
New VP for Libraries and Information Technology Named
In her current role at Johns Hopkins, Martinez is responsible for strategic planning, development and operational leadership overseeing the co-curricular services and experiences for more than 5,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students. She supervises approximately 130 full-time employees in 11 different units, including residential life, student activities and services for student health and counseling. During her three years as associate vice provost, she reconfigured the Department of Student Life to focus on four areas: Community Living, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, and Student Engagement and Involvement.
Martinez was previously interim dean of students at Columbia University from 2013 to 2014, after serving for three and a half years as dean of community development and multicultural affairs and associate dean of students.
Martinez’s appointment at Hamilton marks a return to Upstate New York. She was director of student engagement and multicultural affairs from 2006 to 2009 at Ithaca College, where she also served for three years as director of the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement. From 1991 to 2003, Martinez was dean of experiential learning, director of conferences and leadership programs, and associate dean of students and director of residence life at Wells College. She also held positions at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn and SUNY College at Old Westbury.
The recipient of a bachelor’s degree in social work from SUNY College at Buffalo, Martinez earned a master’s degree in applied psychology from New York University.
