Dr. Christopher L. Martin, dean of the Frost School of Business at Centenary College in Shreveport, will assume leadership of Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business as its new dean, effective July 1. Pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, Martin will bring 21 years of administrative experience at public and private institutions to Louisiana Tech, with the last after 13 years spent leading Centenary College’s Frost School of Business. Marin will officially replace Dr. James Lumpkin, who had previously served as dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Business before leaving in May 2014. “I am thrilled to be asked to lead the College of Business and to be joining the Louisiana Tech community,” said Martin. “I am looking forward to building upon the success of the College of Business, working with my new colleagues in the College and Tech at large, heightening the educational experience of our students, generating powerful ideas, and developing leaders who will excel in the rapidly changing workplace.” Martin says with technology and innovation at the core of business today, Louisiana Tech’s College of Business is uniquely positioned to provide students with business acumen, as well as the knowledge and ability to manage technological change and innovate in a global economy. “Internal collaborations such as the Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology and the Center for Information Assurance, and external partnerships with CSC and the Cyber Innovation Center are great examples of opportunities already underway,” Martin said. That intersection of business and technology provide a competitive edge for graduates and is an advantage I look forward to building upon.” Prior to his leadership of Centenary’s School of Business, Martin served as the department chair for management and marketing as well as a professor of management at LSU-Shreveport from 1988 to 2001. He was also a visiting professor for the summer Tech Rome program at Louisiana Tech in 1992 and 1993. In addition to his deanship at Centenary, Martin has held the Rudy and Jeannie Linco Eminent Scholars Chair of Business Administration since 2001, and has earned membership into several academic and honor societies such as Omicron Delta Epsilon and Sigma Beta Delta. He has also received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the LSU-Shreveport Student Government Association (1998), the Outstanding Teaching and Research Award from LSU-Shreveport (1997-1998), and the Professor of Impact award from the LSU Alumni Association (1997.) “I am looking forward to working with Dr. Martin and the College of Business to continue Louisiana Tech’s tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and service,” said Dr. Terry McConathy, vice president for academic affairs at Louisiana Tech. “Dr. Martin’s leadership skills and expertise are exceptional, and he is an excellent addition to our team. “I want to thank Dr. Tim Bisping for stepping in as interim dean this past year. An interim position is always difficult, and Tim has provided the continuity that is necessary to a successful transition.” Martin earned his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology with concentrations in organizational behavior and human resource management (1987.) He also earned a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University in social and organizational psychology (1983), and a bachelor’s in psychology from Vanderbilt University (1981.) Martin has authored or co-authored four books, published countless articles in research and peer-reviewed journals, and given numerous academic presentations and lectures. “I want to thank all those who have so warmly welcomed me into the Louisiana Tech family,” said Martin. “I think most will find that I try to create an open and collaborative environment with clear and honest communication at the forefront. I can hardly wait to work with all concerned to provide each of our students with a cutting-edge educational experience that will exceed expectations, and also to fight like a bulldog for what is important.”