The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Martin to become the institution’s fourth president on July 1, 2017, and his appointment was confirmed by the Board of Governors.

President Martin came to FGCU from the Colorado State University System, where he served most recently as Chancellor Emeritus and Senior Fellow following three years as Chancellor. Prior to this, he was Chancellor of Louisiana State University; President of New Mexico State University; Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at University of Florida; Vice President for Agricultural Policy at University of Minnesota; and served 15 years on the faculty, including a term as Faculty Senate president, at Oregon State University.

A native of Crosby, Minn., Dr. Martin earned a bachelor's degree in business and economics and a master's degree in economics at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University). He received his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota in 1977. His areas of specialization are prices, international trade, public policy, transportation and business logistics.

His membership on local, state and national boards and organizations spans decades of service, and currently includes the Farm Foundation Board of Trustees and the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium.

Dr. Martin and his wife, Jan, are parents to two children adopted from Korea. Amanda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in graphic design. She and her husband, Paul Ehrsam, are parents to two sons, Logan and Charlie. Son Sam has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence University and a master's degree in software engineering from Pace University.