Speaker Information

Linda C. Martin

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success

University of Tennessee

Linda C. Martin was appointed vice president for academic affairs and student success for the University of Tennessee System on July 19, 2017. Before joining the University, Martin served as the director of the second-year transformational experience program at The Ohio State University.

Martin’s 10-year career at Ohio State also includes serving as the Sanford G. Price and Isabelle P. Barbee Endowed Chair for Teaching, Advising and Learning since 2010 and as associate dean and director for academic programs for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences since 2007.

Previously, she was assistant dean for academic programs for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University from 2002 to 2007. She began her career in higher education as a faculty member at Kansas State University, serving in the department of animal sciences and industry for 15 years.

Martin earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State, a master’s degree from Virginia Tech and a doctorate from Colorado State University—all in animal science.

Martin currently lives in Knoxville with her husband, Ken, and has two children, Travis and Hannah.

Luisa M Havens Gerardo
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management

Virginia Tech

Luisa M. Havens Gerardo became vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech on Aug. 1, 2017. Prior to Virginia Tech, she served as the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services at Florida International University (FIU). She began her career as a student recruiter at her Alma Matter, the University of Idaho. She has served in leadership roles in the areas of admissions, recruitment, registration, international admissions, graduate admissions, financial aid and enrollment services.  She served as the AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) vice president for access and equity from 2010 to 2013 and is an institutional delegate to the College Board.

Originally from Honduras, she holds a B.S. degree in Radio and TV production, a Master’s degree in Resource Recreation and Tourism and a Ph.D.in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from the University of Idaho.

Throughout her career, Havens has worked with diverse, underrepresented and/or at-risk populations. Such experiences contributed to her doctoral research focus culminating in her doctoral dissertation titled “Academic integration and self-efficacy: An exploratory study of at-risk student persistence”. In her role at FIU and previously at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), both Hispanic Serving Institutions with strong commitment to access and student success, she diligently worked on initiatives aimed at serving transfer students, military veterans, low socioeconomic status (SES) populations and first-generation college students. She frequently presents at local, regional and national forums on varied topics such as applying strategic enrollment management practices at urban universities, process re-engineering in enrollment services, staff development and training and leadership/management development.