Susan Work Martin (born October 24, 1950)[1] is an American academic administrator who was most recently the interim president of San José State University.

Born and raised in Croswell, Michigan, Susan Work grew up on a dairy farm[3] and attended classes at a one-room schoolhouse with two outhouses and no running water.

[13] She also oversaw Eastern’s participation in the project “Lead the Way” to train middle- and high-school teachers how to teach a rigorous STEM curriculum in Michigan Schools.

[5] Martin was named co-chair of the United Way of Washtenaw County’s 2014 fundraising campaign to raise $6 million[16] in September 2014 with Steve Dobson, retired president and CEO of Dobson-McOmber Insurance.

[17] In 2014, she was honored by the Ypsilanti/Willow Run Branch of the NAACP with the Josephine Ruffin Honorary Civil Rights Award of Distinction for her “dedicated service in education.”[18] According to Shoshana DeMaria, the NAACP Ypsilanti/Willow Run Branch president, the award recognizes “her focus on ‘Education First,’ keeping tuition affordable, increasing enrollment and making students, families, alumni, faculty and staff feel secure, confident and empowered.”[18] During a press conference and reception on May 14, 2008 announcing her appointment as EMU President, Martin revealed she had started the EMU Excellence Fund.

"[29] When her contract was extended in 2010, then-Chair of the Board of Regents Roy Wilbanks said in a press release, “President Martin has led Eastern and provided EMU with a stability unmatched during this decade.

It’s been a time of significant growth in terms of enrollment and facilities...despite a challenging economy.”[21] In a December 15, 2011 review, regent Beth Fitzsimmons wrote, "For the past decade I have never seen such positive discussion about and support for EMU.

[30] The initiative became known as “0,0,0” and was enacted with the goal of boosting enrollment and positively affecting the university’s revenues, offsetting a 3.1 percent education funding cut by the Michigan Legislature.

[33] In 2013, Martin testified before Lansing lawmakers to explain how the university managed to keep costs down for students in the past four years, while maintaining its ability to reinvest in academic programs and facilities.

[28][34] Amid tuition restraint commitments, Martin led the launch of the “largest comprehensive campaign”[35] in Eastern’s history in April 2010,[36] with a public phase lasting three years.

[33] EMU launched its Information Assurance program for students in 2014,[14] which provided education in scientific, technical and management disciplines for computer and network safety.

[50] The renovation included a glassed-in commons area, improved seating in auditoriums and classrooms, green features, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems.

[54] The new science complex meets LEED silver certification, with a new mechanical system reduces its energy consumption and costs, a green roof and a rain garden aligning the main pedestrian pathway to help filter and detain storm water runoff.

[55] In addition to classes being held in the facility from Monday through Thursday, the planetarium is open for use by K-12 students and teachers on Fridays and public shows are hosted on weekends.

[47] The renovation brought mechanical systems up to date and created additional space for the program, including a suite of primary care medical office-style examination rooms equipped with cameras to evaluate student performance.

[47] Another $1.1 million was committed toward a new Advanced Medical Simulation Center and Human Anatomy Cadaver Laboratory at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor hospital.

[58] New provost and vice president of the university Kim Schatzel was selected in 2011, effective Jan. 3, 2012[59] to streamline the school’s advising system and increase exposure to EMU’s graduate programs, among other leadership roles.

[60] She was selected for her background as a business manager and entrepreneurial spirit[60] and her experience in building strategic academic programs based upon student, employer and state needs.

[45] He was selected for his experience as a teacher of a similar program at the University of Toledo and his service as a physician’s assistant in practices at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan.

[68] Calvin Phillips was named to associate vice president of student affairs,[69] recruited from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

[70] A new executive director of government and community relations, Ken Dobson, was named in September 2014 to help advance EMU’s priorities at local, state and federal levels.

[73] She initiated the Hoyt Conference Center remodeling to serve as the new Department of Public Safety headquarters, located at the northwest end of Eastern’s campus, for $3.9 million.

[37] In 2012, Martin approved the investment of $78,000 of the university’s 2012-2013 contingency fund to upgrade the campus’ 42 blue light emergency phones after an unarmed robbery incident outside of the Warner Building in August 2011.

[78] A new location for The Digital Inclusion store, known as DI, was launched in November 2013, providing computer hardware and software training and operated by the Business Side of Youth, which seeks to reduce the technology gap in low income areas of Washtenaw county.

[79] The Live Ypsi Home Buying Assistance Program, funded by the university, Washtenaw County and the DTE Foundation was launched in 2012 and renewed for a second year in 2013.

[80] Eastern oversaw the renovation of Hamilton Crossing, an impoverished neighborhood on the south side of Ypsilanti[37] comprising 144 housing units,[81] providing life skills training to area residents with the help of a grant from the Kresge Foundation.

[82] The FEP also developed partnerships with local organizations to assist residents in registering eligible children for a Head Start Program and other no-fee preschool resources.

[83] Recertification occurs every 10 years, following a rigorous year-long self-study involving more than 50 people and focused on governance and commitment to: rules and compliance, academic integrity, gender equity, diversity and student athlete well-being.

[83] On April 23, 2012, Martin, along with four EMU regents (Roy Wilbanks, Jim Stapleton, Floyd Clack and Beth Fitzsimmons), were in Washington, D.C. attending an Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges conference.

[89]In a formal response to the Board of Regents, Martin defended her character: I consider myself a 'hands-on' President even to the point of jumping onto the marching band platform when appropriate, rappelling 60 feet down Roosevelt Hall, being on call 24/7 with the Department of Public Safety and insisting on being informed about every serious incident on campus.