Darrin Martin has been appointed as the seventeenth president of historically Black Bluefield State University in West Virginia. He has served as the university’s interim president for the past year.
According to the Department of Education’s most recent data, Bluefield State University enrolls about 1,300 undergraduate and 20 graduate students. About 15 percent of the undergraduate student body is Black.
Before his appointment as interim president, Dr. Martin served on the board of governors for Bluefield State University. Previously, he spent several years with Bluefield University, located just across the state border in Bluefield, Virginia. Throughout his tenure, he served as dean of academic support, director of graduate education, and interim dean of the College of Education and Social Sciences. Earlier in his career, he was director of teacher education for Concord University in West Virginia.
In addition to his career in higher education, Dr. Martin has worked in state government and public school settings. He previously served as school improvement specialist for the West Virginia Department of Education and high school level administrator with Tazewell County Public Schools in West Virginia.
“I am deeply honored to lead this distinguished institution which has given so much opportunity to me and others,” said Dr. Martin. “Bluefield State is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for its students and strengthen its impact in the region. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and the community to build on the university’s successes.”
Dr. Martin is a graduate of Bluefield State University, where he earned an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering technology and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics teacher education. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Radford University in Virginia and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech.
