Martin has a passion for student success

MINOT, N.D. – A career in higher education is something that Heather Martin had never considered.

Martin grew up on a farm near Lansford and attended the University of North Dakota (UND), graduating with a degree in business administration in December 2001. Entering the workforce after graduation proved difficult due to the events of 9/11, which created cutbacks in many companies. Eventually, in 2002, Martin began working as a recruiter for Enrollment Services at UND, which changed the trajectory of her career.

“I quickly discovered I loved working in higher education and decided to pursue a master's degree in educational leadership with a higher education focus,” she said.

Martin completed her master’s degree at UND, where she worked as a recruiter and academic advisor, before joining Minot State as Academic Advising Coordinator in 2010. Her new position involved working with undeclared students and enhancing academic advising services across campus.

In 2019, MSU created the Academic Support Center (ASC), and three years later, she moved into the role of director.

“Much of my experience was in academic advising, although when the director position opened, I had almost 20 years of experience in higher education,” Martin said. "While there were areas within the ASC where I did not have direct experience, I felt that my skills, knowledge, and experience positioned me well to lead the Academic Support Center team. I was excited for a change and a new challenge.”

The heart and soul of ASC rely on students who help one another excel academically.

“Our student employees play an essential role in our office. We hire students to work as peer tutors, peer mentors, peer review leaders, front desk assistants, and graduate assistants,” Martin expressed. “Many of our student employees are extremely busy with many commitments, and we appreciate everything they do for our center. Our Student of the Month award has been a fun way to recognize and celebrate their contributions.”

Ensuring that students know about the success tools on campus is a constant approach from the ASC.

“We collaborate with faculty and staff, participate in campus outreach, and communicate with students to ensure they are informed about our services. We also track student utilization and have seen an increase in usage,” Martin said.

In addition, she highlights the importance of quality resources.

“Our goal is not only to increase the number of students we serve, but also for students to see the value in our services and return for continued assistance throughout their time at Minot State,” Martin added.

According to Martin, every single resource of ASC is crucial in supporting student retention and success.

“For students with documented disabilities, meeting with Access Services is essential to ensure appropriate accommodations are in place to support their academic success,” she said. “Students who are struggling with specific coursework may benefit most from peer tutoring or peer review sessions, which provide targeted academic support.”

Moreover, among the other ASC resources Martin mentions the use of Career Services, which helps students with major selection and employment opportunities, and TRIO for students who qualify based on personal needs.

Martin’s role as director of the ASC puts her in charge of overseeing each of its departments.

“One thing I enjoy about my job is that no two days are the same. I spend a significant amount of time supporting staff across the various areas within the ASC,” she said. “Because most areas are coordinated by a single staff member, they often require additional support and assistance.”

Therefore, one of the biggest challenges of the ASC involves accommodating the individual needs and different backgrounds of students to help them achieve their goals.

“Many students have limited time to utilize our services as they have competing priorities, whether they have jobs or may have additional commitments as a student athlete,” Martin said. “To provide effective services, it is important to collaborate with departments across campus, faculty, and other student support offices. It is also important we measure the direct impact of our programs; however, collecting and analyzing data can be challenging due to limited time and resources.”

Because of these challenges, Martin has developed a different perspective of what defines success.

“Early in my career, I primarily viewed success based on academic performance,” she said. "However, over time, my views changed, and I believe success looks different for each student."

Martin reflected on how success can look on different occasions.

“For one student, success may be measured by acceptance into medical school. For the next student, passing a class with a D is a reason to celebrate,” she said.

As a result, Martin highlights the significance of having short-term and long-term goals for each student.

“Helping students obtain skills such as resilience, self-advocacy, and persistence is equally important as assisting students in achieving academic success,” she said. “One of the things I love the most about my job is providing support and encouragement to students and celebrating their successes, big or small.” 

Martin not only supports students in their academic pursuits, but she and her family also enjoy attending various Minot State events to support students in their extracurricular activities.

She and her husband, Matt, a Minot State alumnus, have three children, Connor, Callie, and Cole and reside in rural Lansford. Outside of her work at MSU, Martin and her family like to travel, and during the summer, they spend time camping and boating.

“Life gets busy and seems to speed up with each passing year, which has reminded me how important it is to step away and make memories with my family,” she said. “We love exploring new places, and we’ve made it a goal to visit as many national parks as possible along the way.”

Overall, Martin enjoys the exciting, fun environment of a college campus where she has the chance to work closely with students to achieve the best version of themselves.