Holly Martin, Ph.D., Named SCC Vice President for Academic Affairs

Published: 06/23/2020

St. Charles Community College has selected Holly Martin, Ph.D., as the next vice president for academic affairs.

Martin has 13 years of experience in higher education as both a faculty member and an administrator. As the Chief Academic Officer at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, she worked with faculty and deans to develop numerous academic programs to expand opportunities for students. Martin collaborated with faculty to enhance assessment procedures ensure the assessment provides actionable results. She consistently utilizes data to ensure continuous improvement of academic programs as well as for strategic planning.

“Dr. Martin brings a wonderful combination of experience in academics and student success initiatives to the role of Vice President for Academic Affairs,” said Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D., SCC president. “Her dedication to student success will be invaluable as we continue to achieve the goals set forth in our strategic plan.”

Martin believes in supporting the needs of diverse learners through both curricular and co-curricular engagement – meeting students where they are and developing a balance between academic challenge and support for all students. Her experiences have included an emphasis on the first-year student experience, retention and student success initiatives, enhancing equity in education and supporting active and engaged instruction. 

Before her time at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, she served as the Associate Dean for Academic Success at Culver-Stockton College where she successfully collaborated with campus partners to design and implement more than a dozen programs to help students achieve their career goals.   She designed a national award-winning First Year Experience® program to enhance student success and has presented at HLC, the National and Regional First Year Experience® conferences, the National Symposium on Student Retention and many others.  She also has significant experience with grant administration, including four TRIO and three Title III grants.  

Martin also serves as a mentor for the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) Persistence and Completion academy, as well as the Student Success Academy, where she works with several institutions in the region to enhance and improve students’ success.  

“I am honored to be joining such an extraordinary group of faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs and support services,” Martin said. “I look forward to continuing that work through student success initiatives and supporting innovative curriculum, pedagogy, and support services at the college.”

Martin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and a Master of Arts in Leadership in Human Service Administration, both from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Saint Louis University. Martin enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with her husband, Mike, and their four-year-old son Nolan.