Provost Terry Martin to Return to the Faculty in June 2025

Provost Terry Martin has announced that he will step down as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and return to a full-time faculty position as a professor of electrical engineering, effective June 30, 2025. 

"Provost Terry Martin has been a trusted colleague, thought partner and a valued member of my executive team, and the University of Arkansas realized many successes under his leadership in the Office of the Provost as both vice provost and provost," said Chancellor Charles Robinson. "A few notable achievements include record enrollment, record retention, record 6-year graduation rates, Higher Learning Commission accreditation reissuance, increased scholarships for Arkansans, the hiring and re-appointment of several new deans, enhanced support for faculty and so much more.  

"I am personally grateful that Terry was in the provost role during my time as interim chancellor and since being named chancellor. I want to thank Provost Martin for his steadfast leadership of the Division of Academic Affairs. I've worked with Provost Martin for many years, and he is not only a highly respected colleague but also a close friend. I have enjoyed working alongside him to advance the university and fulfill our land-grant mission." 

Starting in the fall, the university will conduct a national search to identify the next provost to succeed Martin. Plans, timeline and committee members will be finalized and announced over the summer.  

Martin has served the University of Arkansas for 40 years, both as an administrator and a faculty member in the College of Engineering. He was named provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs in November 2022, and he was the interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs before his appointment as provost. 

"It has been an honor, a privilege and the highlight of my 40-year career to serve the University of Arkansas as provost," said Martin. "I'm grateful to Chancellor Robinson, the Board of Trustees and the entire university community for their support and collaboration during my tenure as provost.  Even though I am stepping down, I remain deeply committed to the University of Arkansas and its land-grant mission. I know that the University of Arkansas will continue to thrive, change the lives of students, and make meaningful contributions to Arkansas and the world under Chancellor Robinson's exceptional leadership." 

Martin has served as senior vice provost for academic affairs, senior associate dean, associate dean, interim dean for the College of Engineering and interim and inaugural department head of biomedical engineering. Martin joined the University of Arkansas in 1983 as a graduate research assistant.  He was promoted to professor in 2002.  

Before joining the University of Arkansas, Martin worked for Reynolds Metals Company, where he served as a project engineer, process control engineer and reduction supervisor at the Jones Mills Reduction Plant in Hot Springs County Arkansas and as a research engineer at the Reduction Research Laboratory in Sheffield, Alabama. During this time, he worked on the design team that developed the first automated digital temperature controller for a ring-baking furnace for carbon anodes. 

Martin holds a Ph.D. in engineering and master's and bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas. He has conducted research in control systems, digital signal processing, intelligent control, and power electronics. He has contributed to 47 research publications, and he has received several awards for teaching excellence and service to students.  

In addition to holding several leadership roles within the University of Arkansas, Martin has served in various leadership capacities with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Region 5 and the Industrial Electronics Society. He is a life senior member of the IEEE and a life member of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. He was also inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Electrical Engineers, and he is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and has served as a program evaluator for the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.