Biddy Martin

Biddy Martin
Name	Biddy Martin
Birth name	Carolyn Bradley Martin
Birth date	22 August 1951
Birth place	Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Alma mater	College of William & Mary (BA), University of Wisconsin–Madison (MA, PhD)
Occupation	Academic administrator, scholar
Known for	President of Amherst College, Provost of Cornell University, scholarship in German studies and gender studies

Biddy Martin. Carolyn Bradley "Biddy" Martin is an American academic administrator and scholar, known for her leadership in higher education and her interdisciplinary work in German literature, queer theory, and women's studies. She served as the 19th president of Amherst College and held significant administrative roles at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her scholarly career is distinguished by critical engagements with figures like Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Lou Andreas-Salomé, bridging continental philosophy with feminist and queer thought.

Early life and education

Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, she attended the College of William & Mary, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in German literature. Her doctoral work focused on nineteenth-century literature and psychoanalytic theory, laying the groundwork for her future interdisciplinary scholarship. This period at the University of Wisconsin–Madison solidified her academic trajectory within the humanities.

Academic career

Martin began her faculty career in the Department of German Studies at Cornell University, where she also became deeply involved with the Society for the Humanities and the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program. She rose to become a tenured professor and later served as the university's Provost, overseeing all academic affairs. Her administrative tenure at Cornell University was marked by initiatives supporting the College of Arts and Sciences and interdisciplinary research. Prior to this, she held a professorship and served as an associate dean at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Presidency of Amherst College

In 2011, she was appointed the 19th president of Amherst College, a leading liberal arts college in Massachusetts. Her presidency focused on enhancing financial aid through initiatives like the Amherst College Financial Aid program, promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting the college's commitment to need-blind admission. She also oversaw significant campus developments and strengthened the college's academic partnerships. Her leadership at Amherst College concluded in 2022, after which she was succeeded by Michael A. Elliott.

Later roles and leadership

Following her presidency, she assumed the role of Senior Advisor to the President at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, focusing on leadership and academic program development. She has also served on the board of directors for the Teagle Foundation, which works to strengthen liberal education. Additionally, she has been a trustee for the College of William & Mary and remains active on various national committees dedicated to higher education policy and the arts and sciences.

Publications and scholarship

Her scholarly output includes influential books such as Woman and Modernity: The (Life)Styles of Lou Andreas-Salomé and Femininity Played Straight: The Significance of Being Lesbian. She has co-edited important volumes like Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures with Chandra Talpade Mohanty. Her essays, published in journals like differences and GLQ, critically examine topics ranging from the writings of Michel Foucault to contemporary queer politics. Her work is frequently cited within the fields of cultural studies and critical theory.

Awards and honors

Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She holds honorary degrees from institutions like Bates College and the College of William & Mary. In recognition of her service to education, she was awarded the Cornell University Medal for Distinguished Service. Her contributions to German studies were honored by the Goethe-Institut and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Category:American academics Category:American university and college presidents Category:German studies scholars Category:1951 births Category:Living people