PJ Martinez is settling into his new role at ACU as associate dean of student engagement after recently being hired for the spring semester.
Martinez recently came into the role after holding a previous position at Hardin-Simmons University. However, Martinez’s student engagement skills don’t come just from his job experience.
Martinez graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Child and Family Services, then graduated from the University of Nebraska with his master’s in Education Administration.
Martinez grew the most with helping students during his time at college. The continuation of his degree at the University of Nebraska helped him understand the different functional areas that makeup student life.
“I grew the most during college, if it wasn’t for my mentor from Baylor then I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Martinez. “I put my desire in wanting to go into student affairs to him.”
After getting married to his wife and coming out of college, Martinez worked at the University of Arkansas for five years.
Martinez moved from an academic outreach specialist to promote college to all high school students about what to expect to being transitioned to the Multicultural Center as an assistant director working on programming and events.
“I feel like I have to have a job where I am helping people, help can look in any sort of way,” Martinez said.“But as long as I am helping people and making them be happy. When you come into my office, I want to make sure you feel loved no matter what background you come from. I am going to give you an opportunity to talk and I am going to listen.”
In the fall semester of last year, Dr. Tamara Long, vice president for enrollment management and Dr. Ryan Richardson, associate vice president for student life, reached out to Martinez about a potential position in student life. Student Life needed to fill the role that was previously held by Caddie Coupe. Martinez had a personal connection to Richardson that made him be considered for the role.
Before doing a national search, Richardson and Long asked Martinez about the role personally while he was working at HSU. Richardson believed that Martinez met the qualifications for the role perfectly.
“Overall we wanted someone who could care deeply about student engagement,” Richardson said.“Plugging in students on campus to create a sense of belonging. It takes a very talented individual to be able to think and put themselves in the place of students of various interests and backgrounds.”
Martinez took the position after realizing the growth that could come out of ACU and himself despite the position being less interaction with students. Martinez made of the goal of wanting to know from students and faculty to them what has made ACU successful.
Aside from still learning aspects of his new role, Martinez hopes to create a deeper student engagement for all students coming from all backgrounds, starting from Greek Life to Student Productions.
“Student engagement is such a big part of a student’s life,” Martinez said.“I want to ensure that every student that comes to ACU that they get a sense of belonging and community. If they don’t get that, then I am not doing my job right.”
