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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

About Us

Historical Leadership

 

Current Chancellor: Michael V. Martin, Ph.D.


Michael V. Martin began his tenure as interim Chancellor at UW-River Falls in Sept. 2024, following the retirement of Maria Gallo, the university's 20th Chancellor.

Prior to joining UWRF as interim Chancellor, Martin served as the fourth President of Florida Gulf Coast University from 2017 to 2023. Previously, he had served Colorado State University System as Chancellor Emeritus and Senior Fellow, following three years as Chancellor. Prior to this, he was Chancellor of Louisiana State University; President of New Mexico State University; Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at University of Florida; Vice President for Agricultural Policy at University of Minnesota; and served 15 years on the faculty, including a term as Faculty Senate president, at Oregon State University.

 A native of Crosby, Minnesota, Martin earned a bachelor's degree in business and economics and a master's degree in economics at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University). He received his Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota in 1977. His areas of specialization are prices, international trade, public policy, transportation and business logistics.

His membership on local, state and national boards and organizations spans decades of service, and currently includes the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium and serving as board chair of the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.

Chancellor Martin and his wife, Jan, are parents to two children adopted from Korea. Amanda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in graphic design. She and her husband, Paul Ehrsam, are parents to two grandsons, Logan and Charlie. Son Sam has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence University, and a master's degree in software engineering from Pace University.

 

Past Presidents and Chancellors