Academy Team
Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin taught history for over 20 years and is the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Modesto Junior College. As a faculty member, he served three two-year terms as Academic Senate president. He has been deeply involved in leadership roles and many initiatives to increase student completion. Curtis has co-chaired and served in a broad range of committees, including Guided Pathways, implementing AB 705, faculty program review, accreditation, and hiring committees for chancellors, presidents, vice presidents, and faculty. As interim dean, he has continued advocating for and supporting students and faculty to create the best learning and teaching environment.
Curtis passionately believes that higher and career technical public education are instrumental in helping create a more just and equitable society, and he believes in facing challenges head-on by promoting engagement and advocating for actionable policies and initiatives. Curtis grew up in Cuba and migrated to the United States at age 18, first attending community college in Oakland. Navigating the cultural, linguistic, and social differences in the United States was the most challenging part of integrating and adapting to his new surroundings. He transferred to University of California, Berkeley, where he completed a history degree, and later became a doctoral candidate in history at University of California, San Diego. Throughout his long journey to complete those degrees, he worked to help pay the bills.
Curtis first participated in LFM in 2015, helping his institution organize a transformational four-day retreat around equity and student success in Asilomar. One hundred faculty attended in 2015, and one hundred fifty in 2016. A few years later, he again joined LFM to discuss possible ways to use data to inform decisions at his institution.
Curtis is a people person and enjoys deep and vibrant conversations, especially while sharing a meal with colleagues and friends.