Dr Michael Martin to step in as interim lead of Collaboratory
Dr. Michael V. Martin, outgoing president of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) will step in as interim president and CEO of Collaboratory on July 1.
Martin served as the institution’s fourth president since July 1, 2017.
Before joining FGCU, Martin served as Chancellor Emeritus and Senior Fellow at Colorado State University. 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, Minnesota, 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.
“Dr. Martin’s involvement in local, state and national boards and organizations spans decades of service,” said Gail Markham, vice chairman of Collaboratory Board of Trustees. “We are incredible fortunate that he has decided to stay active in local boards and vital issues. We are looking forward to him guiding the Collaboratory team with his experience and leadership while we secure our next CEO.”
“I hope to assist the great crew at the Collaboratory to continue their important work during this period of transition,” said Martin.
In late March, current CEO Sarah Owen announced her plans to step down nearly 12 years after she joined Collaboratory in 2011 when she was recruited to create a community foundation of the future. Under her leadership, Collaboratory’s assets have grown by $130 million, the organization has shifted from transactional to transformational giving, creating a new identity committed to coordinating the solving of all the regions social problems on a deadline.
Dr. Martin will work with the Collaboratory Board over the next few months as they continue to search for the organization’s eventual new leadership.
ABOUT COLLABORATORY
Collaboratory is committed to coordinating the solving of all of Southwest Florida’s social problems on an 18-year deadline including homelessness, poverty, mental illness, illiteracy and more. We plan to do this with the entire community working together including people of all ages, colors, beliefs and imaginations across all five counties. We’re committed to coordinating all of this on a massive scale, in the way NASA coordinated the hundreds of thousands of businesses, universities, institutions and people to get us to the moon in nine years. We’re not oblivious to people saying this is ridiculous, insane and crazy but we’re driven by the inspiration of all those great figures in history who have come before us to achieve things no one ever thought remotely possible. Steve Jobs’ observation sums it up for us: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” We’re building the largest, most democratized living laboratory for community problem-solving in history.
Collaboratory was founded in 1976 as the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. It has made over $100 million in grants since then and is home to more than 400 philanthropic funds. It is upon that legacy of a commitment to community we plan to fulfill on that mission at the level of its greatest expression. As Collaboratory, we will finish what we started.
To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit collaboratory.org.
Source: Collaboratory