Bulldog Bites

News and Views from the University of Redlands

Mario Martinez appointed next School of Education dean

University of Redlands President Ralph Kuncl and Provost Kathy Ogren sent this memo to the University community on March 13 announcing the appointment of a new dean of the School of Education.

We are pleased to announce that our successful search for a new dean of the School of Education has concluded with the appointment of Professor Mario Martinez, who will begin July 1.  Mario, whose title will be the Robert A. & Mildred Peronia Naslund Endowed Dean, joins Redlands from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he is chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. 

Mario looks forward to his new position at Redlands: “I am honored that the University of Redlands has chosen me as the next dean of the School of Education. I look forward to collaborating with faculty as we build on our strong foundation and continue serving our community and students to achieve greater equity and opportunity at all levels of education.”

Previously, Mario was Vice Chancellor of Strategy and Innovation and a professor for the National University System based in San Diego (2014-17) and, before that, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Higher Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2003-13).  During those years, he was also involved in a variety of professional activities, including as co-founder of Soft Skills Professional, LLC (online and onsite training to higher education professionals); affiliate faculty member at the University of Minnesota, Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education; consultant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for seminar and management consultant company ServiceElements International.

His experience also includes positions as:  senior researcher for the Alliance for International Higher Education and Policy Studies, New York University; faculty member in the Department of Education Management and Development at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces; strategic management analyst in the Arizona Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget; and financial analyst at Hewlett Packard Corporation.

He is a graduate of New Mexico State University (B.S., electrical engineering, minor in economics); University of Texas, Austin (MBA); and Arizona State University (Ph.D., educational leadership and policy studies). Mario is the author of six books, including the forthcoming The Science of Higher Education: State Higher Education Policy and the Laws of Scale (Stylus Publishers, 2020). He has also authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, commissioned policy reports, newspaper articles, and presentations and keynote addresses.

Thank you to members of the search committee for their dedication:  Pauline Reynolds (co-chair), Kathy Ogren (co-chair), Adrianna Ruiz Alvarado, Brian Charest, Sara Falkenstien, Lua Gregory, Heather Lambeth, Dinh Nguyen, Conroy Reynolds, Alayne Sullivan, Tamara Tribitt, Karalee Vaughn, and Steven Wuhs.

Mario will be joined in Redlands with his spouse, Sara DeMartinez.  Sara is a licensed attorney, teaches higher education law, and has worked as a consultant in a variety of positions, with duties ranging from higher education policy analysis to test preparation for aspiring college students. She looks forward to moving to Redlands for a new chapter, too.

Please join us as we welcome Mario and Sara to the University of Redlands community.

Learn more about the University of Redlands School of Education.