Her students and colleagues describe her as “committed,” “tireless,” and a “hero.” Now Dr. Florence Martin, Education Leadership, can officially add Graduate Program Leader to that list.
Dr. Martin is the 2019 inaugural recipient of the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award for excellence in graduate program administration. She is a professor in Learning, Design and Technology, Graduate Program Director (GPD) of the Post-Master’s Certificate of University and College Teaching and Program Coordinator of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Learning, Design and Technology.
“Our Graduate Program Directors comprise faculty who not only excel in teaching and advising, but take responsibility for making graduate education grow and prosper in their program,” said UNC Charlotte Associate Provost and Graduate School Dean Tom Reynolds. “This award gives us a way to highlight and acknowledge our very best leaders and their accomplishments.”
Among Dr. Martin’s accomplishments was the resurrection of Instructional Systems Technology programs that had seen declining enrollment in recent years. “Dr. Martin single-handedly revised our 100 percent online IST programs to be innovative, award-winning and thriving programs,” said Claudia Flowers, chair of the Educational Leadership program.
The Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) Graduate Certificate and M.Ed. and University and College teaching Post-Master’s Certificate are distance education programs and can be completed 100% online, while the LDT concentration of the Ed.D. program is offered 50% online.
She also is credited with achieving Quality Matters certification for several online courses and two program level certifications in the areas of program design and learner success. The Learning, Design and Technology program was recently recognized as Best Master’s in Teaching Program by rating agency OnlineMasters.com.
Dr. Martin joined UNC Charlotte faculty in 2014 as Associate Professor and began directing the online Instructional Systems Technology (IST) graduate program. She served as the Program Director for the Graduate Certificate and M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology program from 2014-2018.
“I serve as a GPD because I can make a difference in how our programs are structured and delivered,” Dr. Martin said, “and I can make a difference in the lives of our graduate students.”
“Dr. Martin is the very definition of program leadership,” Dean Reynolds said. “We’re proud to have her on our team.”
For more information or to enroll, please visit Educational Leadership, Cato College of Education.