Seattle Pacific University president resigns

Seattle Pacific University will begin searching for a new leadership after President Dan Martin resigned after nine years on the job.

Martin was hired as the private Christian university’s 10th president in 2012. His last day was April 5.

In his announcement, Martin said he accepted a leadership role at a national health system healthcare foundation. The nature of his new job requires him to begin before the end of April.

Martin stated in his announcement another reason for his resignation is to move closer to family in the Midwest following the deaths of his father and sister last year.

The SPU Board of Trustees has put together a transition plan for the interim leadership, Director of Public Information Tracy Norlen said in an email.

SPU Provost Laura Hartley is overseeing operations as executive in charge until the board appoints an interim president. The search for a permanent replacement will then begin, Norlen said in the email.

“Though we are saddened to learn of President Martin’s planned departure to pursue a new chapter in his life, we are also indebted to his remarkable and dedicated leadership over the past nine years of service as president of our beloved SPU,” Board of Trustees Chair Cedric Davis said in a statement to the SPU community.

During his tenure, Martin oversaw the university’s transition to remote learning in response to the coronavirus pandemic last year. He announced last month the university will resume in-person instruction this fall. According to the university’s announcement, Martin also led an effort to raise $6 million to restore and retrofit Alexander Hall, the campus’s oldest building, which was named for SPU’s first president. Martin then changed the building’s name to Alexander and Adelaide Hall to recognize the contributions of the first president’s wife, Adelaide Beers. As well, Martin expanded the leadership team to include a vice president of inclusive excellence, celebrated SPU’s 125 anniversary and oversaw construction of a new residence hall, a modern health sciences building and music and rehearsal studio, according to the announcement.

“Some of the most enjoyable aspects of serving at SPU has been experiencing this dynamic campus and engaging with our students,” Martin said in his statement.

Before coming to SPU in Queen Anne, Martin served as president of Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio and vice president for university advancement at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.