David Martinson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, to Retire

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David Martinson

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – David Martinson, who has served as associate vice chancellor for business affairs at the University of Arkansas for 25 years, announced that he will retire, effective July 31. He will retire with the title of associate vice chancellor for business affairs emeritus, following action by the UA Board of Trustees that recognized his service to the university.

Martinson joined the university in November 1988, following 15 years in purchasing and business services at three other institutions. In his time at the U of A he has been directly involved in a wide array of changes intended to increase the university’s revenues and improve convenience for the campus community. At the same time he led the effort to cut expenses by making university operations more efficient, cost effective and business-like.

“I don’t know if there is anyone in higher education who knows more about the business and purchasing needs of a university than David Martinson,” said Don Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration. “He has guided us through many procedural and technological changes over the past 25 years, and these have saved the university a great deal of time and money, while also substantially increasing our sources of revenue. He has been instrumental in helping the U of A through this unprecedented period of growth.”

Martinson is credited with developing the university’s trademark licensing program and beverage sponsorship program, helping to create the Garland Center retail and parking complex, all of which created substantial new revenue for the University of Arkansas.

Martinson also helped develop the public/private partnership that renovated Carnall Hall, the second oldest building on campus, giving it new life as both a historic inn and a teaching facility for the U of A’s hospitality and restaurant management program.

Martinson was instrumental in developing the funding sources to transform Razorback Transit into a fare-free service with over 2 million passengers per year. He also helped bring the transit system into the 21^st century by enabling a real-time online tracking system that allows riders to monitor the location of buses on their smart phones. 

He also assisted student leaders in developing, operating and improving the Safe Ride program.

Under Martinson’s leadership the number of parking spaces on campus more than doubled, as he was able to develop funding to build parking garages and new parking lots. He also helped install parking management systems that allow web-based vehicle registration.

Martinson’s interest in technology was nothing new: he was among the first on campus to recognize the efficiencies and savings possible through technology. He implemented the first automated campus procurement system and helped to develop BASIS, the university’s administrative software system. Automation has allowed the business office to keep pace with university growth without adding a large number of staff. The latest wave of business office automation is the web-based RazorBuy procurement system, which will have its full campus rollout at the end of this month.

Even programs that are now taken for granted were initiated by Martinson, like the one that lets the university sell its surplus equipment at an on-campus location, rather than taking it to Little Rock.

Beyond campus, Martinson was co-founder and co-chair of the Administrative Effectiveness and Efficiency Committee, a statewide committee comprising higher education and state agency representatives who worked toward improving state business practices.

He has also served as president of the Arkansas Association of College and University Business Officers and the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana region of the National Association of Educational Procurement; on the research and doctoral committee of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers; and currently serves on the board of directors of the E&I Cooperative, a non-profit higher education procurement consortium.

 Martinson has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University, an M.B.A. from St. Edwards University and a doctorate in education from the University of Arkansas in 2010.

Martinson and his wife, Jo, intend to continue living in Fayetteville after retirement, and plan to travel and visit their daughters in their free time. Martinson will also continue pursuing his favorite hobbies, which include racing his 1999 Porsche Boxer at Hallett raceway near Tulsa.