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DCCL Student Sean Huddleston Selected As Next President of Martin University, Indiana

Ferris State UniversityA member of Student Cohort Seven in Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership has been named the next president of Martin University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sean Huddleston, the vice president for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Indianapolis, will begin his duties at the private, predominantly black institution on Monday, March 25. The board of trustees for the institution, founded in 1977, announced their selection of Huddleston earlier in January 2019.

“I began my service at the University of Indianapolis in 2017, and as I drove around town, I would see the Martin University sign,” Huddleston said. “That is significant to me, as it is my wife’s maiden name. I arranged for a meeting with their president, Eugene White, so I could learn more about the university and its mission. I heard about his plans to retire, and he encouraged me to apply.”

Huddleston said he was excited to continue his career in Indianapolis with Martin, as the university strives to support students from nontraditional backgrounds, along with those who may have begun their post-secondary education elsewhere.

The transition process is already in place for Huddleston.

“President White will be staying on for three months, in an emeritus capacity, which I am certain will be a great benefit,” Huddleston said. “My university president, Robert Manuel, has been very generous about accommodating my transition to this new opportunity. He came to his position in 2012 and has a significant understanding of the circumstances that will present themselves as I begin my service at Martin. I am greatly appreciative of his efforts to make my transfer a smooth one.”

Word of Huddleston’s success brought responses of congratulation from DCCL peers and administrators.

“Sean’s passion for and work history with equity and inclusion make him the perfect fit for Martin,” said Marsha Danielson, who will graduate along with Huddleston in May. “His DCCL studies prepared Sean to be a mission-driven leader within our ever-changing environment in education. Sean will bring the university to new levels of growth and success.”

The DCCL leadership sees Huddleston as a rising star.

“From the time he entered the DCCL program, his classmates and the staff saw Sean as a strong leader who was destined for great things,” DCCL Director Roberta Teahen said. “He will do great things for the students at Martin, as well as for all of higher education with his tireless commitment to excellence and equity.”

Huddleston is glad that his Ferris DCCL studies are nearing their conclusion, as Cohort Seven prepares to graduate in May 2019.

“I have learned many things that were of great benefit in this successful candidacy,” Huddleston said. “I have a defense date of Saturday, March 2 for my dissertation, and all of my chapters are written and have been approved by my committee. It will be no extra burden to prepare my dissertation for publishing during this time of transition.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Sean Huddleston, a member of Student Cohort Seven in Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership program, was recently named the next president of Martin University in Indianapolis, Indiana.