Johns Hopkins dean of student life to depart for position at Hamilton College

Terry Martinez, associate vice provost and dean of student life at the Johns Hopkins University since 2014, has been named vice president and dean of students at Hamilton College.

Image caption: Terry Martinez

Martinez will serve as a member of the senior staff of the 1,850-student liberal arts college in Clinton, New York, reporting to President David Wippman. She succeeds a dean who is retiring after 31 years at Hamilton.

"Throughout her career, Terry Martinez has consistently demonstrated an effective and collaborative leadership style," Wippman said. "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."

Kevin Shollenberger, vice provost for student life at Johns Hopkins, said Martinez, who arrived at JHU in July 2014, has had "a lasting positive impact on Johns Hopkins students and their community" and has been "a critical partner in all that we do here."

Martinez has been responsible for co-curricular experiences and non-academic services for more than 5,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students at the Homewood campus. She supervises 130 full-time employees in 11 units, including residential life, student activities, student health, and counseling. She reconfigured the Office of Student Life to focus on four areas: Community Living, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, and Student Engagement and Involvement.

"I've been fortunate to have worked with so many talented individuals to enhance the student experience," she said.

Since joining Johns Hopkins, Martinez has led the Alcohol Strategy Working Group and convened a committee on enhancing fraternity and sorority life. She co-chaired the university-wide Mental Health and Well-being Task Force, introduced Student Life's CARE system and case manager positions, and launched the Centers for Diversity and Inclusion under a new associate dean position.

"Just as important, though," Shollenberger said, "is the way Terry operates in the day-to-day, one-on-one aspects of her work. Providing empathy during times of crisis, support for those in need of help, and ardent advocacy for individual students and the student body as a whole, she is a model for anyone aspiring to excellence in our line of work.

"We've been lucky to have Terry working with us," he said. "Hamilton is lucky to get her."

Martinez will leave Johns Hopkins on July 14. Shollenberger said he will work with her in coming weeks to develop a transition plan.