View source for Biography:Harold L. Martin

{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Dr. Harold L. Martin
| image        = File:Harold L Martin.jpg
| order        = 12th
| title        = Chancellor of<br />North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
| term_start   = 2009
| term_end     = Present
| predecessor  = Stanley F. Battle
| order2       = 12th
| title2       = Chancellor of<br />[[Organization:Winston-Salem State University|Winston-Salem State University]]
| term_start2  = 2000
| term_end2    = 2006
| predecessor2 = Alvin J. Schexnider
| successor2   = Donald Reaves
| birth_place  = Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| alma_mater   = North Carolina A&T<br>Virginia Tech
| profession   = Engineer
| spouse       = Davida Wagner Martin
| children     = {{small|Harold L Martin Jr. <br> Walter Martin}}
| blank1       = Salary
| data1        = $360,000 USD/ year<ref>[http://www.wral.com/unc-board-of-governors-raised-salaries-for-12-chancellors-in-closed-meeting/15054474/ UNC Board of Governors raised salaries for 12 chancellors in closed meeting]</ref>
| signature    = H.MartinSignature.png
| website      = {{nowrap|[http://www.ncat.edu/about/leadership/chancellor/biography.html/ ncat.edu/chancellor/biography]}}
}}
'''Harold L. Martin Sr.''' Ph.D. (born October 22, 1951) is an {{wipe|United States}} [[Engineering:Engineer|engineer]], educator and former, and current [[Social:Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Organization:Winston-Salem State University|Winston-Salem State]] and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University respectively. He is the first alumnus in the history of North Carolina A&T to hold the position of Chancellor.<ref name=ChancellorMartinBio>{{cite web|title=Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.|url=http://www.ncat.edu/about/leadership/chancellor/biography.html|work=ncat.edu website|publisher=North Carolina A&T State University|accessdate=27 May 2014}}</ref>

== Early life and education==
Martin, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, received both his bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in [[Electrical engineering|electrical engineering]] from North Carolina A&T. He later earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech in 1980.<ref name="Martin Bio">{{cite web|title=Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.|url=http://www.ncat.edu/about/leadership/chancellor/biography.html|website=ncat.edu|publisher=North Carolina A&T|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=H.MartinVitae>{{cite web|title=Harold L. Martin, Sr. Vitae|url=http://sacs.ncat.edu/doclib/Chancellor,%20Harry%20Martin%20vitae,%202009.pdf|website=sacs.ncat.edu|publisher=North Carolina A&T State University|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref>

==Career==
Martin's career in education began at his [[Social:Alma mater|alma mater]], North Carolina A&T, where he worked in various capacities within the school's electrical engineering department; including serving as dean of the College of engineering from 1989 to 1994. He would later be appointed to the position of Vice Chancellor of academic affairs of the university, where he served from 1994 to 1999.<ref name=ChancellorMartinBio/>

In 2000, Martin was appointed chancellor of Winston-Salem State University.<ref name="O'Kelly Library">{{cite web|title=Cleon Franklin Thompson Jr.|url=http://www.wssu.edu/cg-okelly-library/services/archives/core/presidents-chancellors/cleon-f-thompson-jr.aspx|work=C.G. O'Kelly Library Archives website|publisher=Winston-Salem State University|accessdate=21 May 2014|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527220729/http://www.wssu.edu/cg-okelly-library/services/archives/core/presidents-chancellors/cleon-f-thompson-jr.aspx|archivedate=27 May 2014|df=}}</ref> Under the Martin administration, the university's enrollment nearly doubled, from 2,796 to 5,556.<ref name=Vtechnews>{{cite web|last1=Nystrom|first1=Lynn A.|title=Harold Martin named Virginia Tech distinguished engineering alumnus|url=http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2010/03/2010-207.html|website=vtnews.vt.edu website|publisher=Virginia Tech News|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> In addition, freshman SAT scores increased by nearly 70 points, and the campus underwent a dramatic physical transformation made possible in part by a $45 Million Higher Education Bond Program in 2000.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=WSSU Archway Magazine|date=Summer 2012|volume=12|issue=2|page=11|url=http://issuu.com/wssuarchway/docs/archway_summer2012_now/11|title=A New Millennium|accessdate=23 May 2014}}</ref> He was also credited with forging stronger working relationships with internal and external constituencies, raising the quality and breadth of academic degree programs, launching programs to improve student retention and graduation rates, and upgrading the campus' technology.<ref name=Vtechnews/>

In 2006, Martin would step down from the leadership of Winston-Salem State University and become senior vice president for academic affairs at The [[Organization:University of North Carolina|University of North Carolina]], General Administration. While there, Martin oversaw the development and implementation of the University’s academic mission, including teaching, research, international programs and student affairs.<ref name=ChancellorMartinBio/>

On May 22, 2009, Martin was elected as the twelfth Chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University, making him the first alumnus to serve in the position.<ref name=A&THistory>{{cite web|title=A&T History|url=http://www.library.ncat.edu/resources/archives/history.html|work=Library.ncat.edu|publisher=F.D. Bluford Library-NC A&T State University|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> Under Martin's leadership, the university has developed a strategic plan to aimed to position the North Carolina A&T to become a premier institution of higher learning and research on a state, national, and international level. The plan entitled "Preeminence 2020," identifies six specific goals including the increase of diversity and research activity within the university.<ref name=preeminence2020>{{cite web|title=Preeminence 2020: Embracing Our Past, Creating Our Future|url=http://www.ncat.edu/about/forms-pdf/strategicplan-preeminence2020.pdf|work=ncat.edu|publisher=North Carolina A&T|accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
Martin has been the recipient of a number of awards and recognition, on both a local and national level, over the span of his career. Those awards include: Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities (1974); North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year (1976); {{wipe|American City Business Journals}}'s 10 to Watch (2001); Winston-Salem Chronicle's Man of the Year (2001); Virginia Tech's Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award (2004); McDonald’s 5th Annual African American Achievement Award for Education (2005); Thurgood Marshall College Foundation Award for Excellence (2008), and Virginia Tech College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus (2010).<ref name=H.MartinVitae/><ref name=Vtechnews/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Catanoso|first1=Justin|title=What's happened to 2001's 10 to Watch?|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2001/12/31/tidbits.html?page=all|accessdate=29 June 2014|work=Triad Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=31 December 2001}}</ref> Martin also has an Honorary Degree from [[Organization:Wake Forest University|Wake Forest University]], which he was awarded in 2007.<ref name=H.MartinVitae/>

In 2012, the Winston-Salem State University Board of Trustees approved the naming of new residence hall in honor of Martin and his predecessor, Alvin J. Schexnider, who served as chancellor of the university from 1996 until 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Residence Hall at WSSU Named for Two Chancellors|url=http://www.wssu.edu/about/news/2012/new-residence-hall-named.aspx|website=WSSU.edu website|publisher=Winston-Salem State University|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Martin is married to his wife Davida Martin ''(nee Wagner)''. Mrs. Martin is a county attorney for Forsyth County, North Carolina, and together she and Dr. Martin have two sons, Harold Jr. and Walter Martin. Martin is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alpha Brothers currently serving as President or in Leadership of Higher Educational Institutions|url=http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/PressNewsDetails.php?newsID=40&newsCat=Announcements|website=http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com|publisher=Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity|accessdate=29 June 2014|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929140909/http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/PressNewsDetails.php?newsID=40&newsCat=Announcements|archivedate=29 September 2014|df=}}</ref>

== Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Gibbs|first=Warmoth T.|title=History of The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College|year=1966|publisher=Wm. C. Brown Book Company|location=Dubuque, Iowa}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|last=Baldwin|first=Todd|title=Oral Histories- An Interview with Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr.|url=http://lincolnslegacyoralhistories.com/entry/12790211-An-interview-with-Dr.-Harold-L?offset=6&sort=approvedcomments%20DESC,id%20ASC&channel=23721|work=Lincolns Legacy Oral Histories|accessdate=27 May 2014}}
*{{US patent reference
| number   = 5457702
| y        = 1995
| m        = 10
| d        = 10
| inventor = Everett L. Williams, III, Harold L. Martin, Jien-Chung Lo 
| title    = Check bit code circuit for simultaneous single bit error correction and burst error detection
}}
*{{cite web|last=Chafe|first=William, H.|title=Oral history interview with Lewis C. Dowdy by William Chafe|url=http://library.uncg.edu/dp/crg/oralhistitem.aspx?i=636|work=Civil Rights Greensboro|publisher=University of North Carolina at Greensbro|accessdate=21 May 2014|date=January 21, 1975}}
*{{cite web|last=Pfaff|first=Eugene, E.|title=Oral history interview with Lewis C. Dowdy by Eugene Pfaff|url=http://library.uncg.edu/dp/crg/oralHistItem.aspx?i=506|work=Civil Rights Greensboro|publisher=University of North Carolina at Greensbro|accessdate=21 May 2014|date=February 21, 1977}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box
| before = Stanley F. Battle
| title  = {{nowrap|Chancellor of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University}}
| after  = ''Incumbent''
| years  = 2009-Present
}}
{{succession box
| before = Alvin J. Schexnider
| title  = {{nowrap|Chancellor of [[Organization:Winston-Salem State University|Winston-Salem State University]]}}
| after  = Donald Reaves
| years  = 2000-2006
}}
{{s-end}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Harold L.}}
[[Category:American engineers]]

{{Sourceattribution|Harold L. Martin|1}}