New Mexico State University President Michael Martin has decided to take a job as the next leader of LSU’s main campus in
Though the appointment of Martin as the campus’ chancellor still needs approval of the LSU Board of Supervisors, a Sunday news release from the university indicates that’s merely a formality: Martin, the release states, “is expected to assume his duties in early August.” LSU system President John V. Lombardi formally announced on Sunday that he will recommend the hiring of Martin, and Martin has agreed to take the job.
“The decision to leave NMSU has been a very difficult one but we are very excited about the opportunity to be part of the leadership team at LSU,” Martin said in the news release. “It is a great university committed to becoming still better. I look forward to working with President Lombardi and the other fine people at LSU in shaping a bright future for the university and all it serves.”
Lombardi, who personally asked Martin to consider the job, said in the release that LSU “is exceptionally fortunate to be able to attract an academic leader with the experience and accomplishments of Mike Martin.” Martin previously worked for Lombardi at a school in
“We are delighted to welcome Mike Martin and his wonderful wife, Jan, as chancellor and first lady of our flagship institution of LSU,” Lombardi said.
An LSU search committee voted unanimously last week to recommend that Martin become chief executive of the school. As I wrote last week, Martin will begin his tenure at LSU already facing controversy, in part because of the way he was hired, and he also leaves behind controversy at NMSU.
Bob Gallagher, chairman of the NMSU Board of Regents, said two weeks ago that, if Martin left, an interim president would be in place by early June and a national search firm would be hired with the goal of installing a new president by Jan. 1.
Martin had a contract at NMSU through 2012 that paid him $335,000 annually, a housing allowance of $6,000 per month and a deferred compensation payment of $100,000 if he stayed at NMSU until the end of the contract. But he said at a news conference in May, in announcing his consideration of the LSU job, that he was intrigued by the challenge of learning the culture in another state. And he said top university executives often move around as quickly.
“It’s what we do in this business,” Martin said. “The presidencies seem to be changing a little more rapidly these days.”
Update, 2 p.m.
Gov. Bill Richardson released this statement on Martin’s departure from NMSU.
“Mike Martin is a respected educator and leader; this is a loss for