Meet Courtney Martin, Campus President at East Ohio College!
In her role as Campus President, Courtney strives to help each and every student achieve their career goals. “Every student and every person not only has the capacity to learn, but also the capacity to find a fulfilling career. We meet students where they are and help them form a unique action plan to help them achieve their career goals,” said Courtney.
Courtney believes there is a strong need for East Ohio in the tri-state area to provide career-focused college degrees that prepare students to succeed in their careers.
“In the tri-state area, here in Appalachia, there is this social-moral obligation to work. People take pride in hard work and a job well done to support their family,” said Courtney. In addition to hard-working people, there is a serious need in the community for qualified employees. “At East Ohio, we are able to service both of these needs in the community, including employers who need qualified professionals and people who want to fulfill their moral obligation to work.”
Courtney has some insight into the student experience here for those who are thinking about attending East Ohio to earn their degree and prepare for an exciting new career. “Yes, we have fast-track programs, only have class Monday through Thursday, and students can earn their degree along with certifications, but what really makes East Ohio unique is that we are one big family. We truly care about each other, and we help students in academics while they are here and after they graduate as they transition into their careers.”
Ever since she was a little kid, Courtney has always wanted to be a teacher. “I have two sisters, and I used to force them to play school, and I would be the teacher,” said Courtney. She has also coached cheerleading and soccer. “I have a strong passion for learning, and I’m always trying to learn new things,” said Courtney.
In her own college experience, Courtney attended Geneva College and earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and history. After graduating, she earned her professional teaching license and worked in the Freedom Area School District at the middle and high school levels. Her teaching job was eventually furloughed, and she began working at Signet as a multi-store sales manager, a large jewelry company that owns several major brands. Courtney excelled in this role, leading her store to be one of the country’s top three.
In 2015, Courtney started at East Ohio in career services and has been here ever since, working hard to help students get into fulfilling and meaningful careers they will love. She earned her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration in 2019, and this is what helped her decide she wanted the position of Campus President. While completing her master’s degree, she was required to fulfill 300 internship hours. She did this at East Ohio with former Campus President, Scott Rogers and George Mikluscak, Vice President of Academic Compliance and Support.
“It was very fascinating learning about the operations of the school. Through the internship, I learned that the Campus President role is not only to manage but also to maintain accountability for our students and their success. So, when I was offered the position, it was a no-brainer to accept,” said Courtney.
Courtney says that becoming the Campus President at East Ohio is her accomplishment that she is most proud of. “I’ll never forget when I first graduated from college, and it was right after the stock market crash of 2008. Teaching jobs were abundant before that, but there were more than 500 people applying for each job after. I remember crying at my parents table because I never thought I would get into my career. Now, looking back to see that I’ve made it is great. My parents have always been my biggest supporters, so making them proud is amazing,” said Courtney. “I feel like I’m able to be a role model for my twin nieces about what hard work and dedication will help you achieve.”
When asked what motivates her to give it her all every day, Courtney shares a personal struggle that has inspired her since she was a child. “I actually lost both of my original kidneys to stage four kidney cancer as a child. I wasn’t supposed to survive, but I did. I even went to Disney as a Make a Wish kid. My dad donated a kidney. I’ve always had this drive to make the best of life and live life to the fullest potential,” said Courtney.
Courtney loves her new role as East Ohio’s Campus President. “When I was in career services, I was helping students from one end of the spectrum. As Campus President, I have the opportunity to assist with all levels of support that students will receive in college and beyond. I get to help in all departments and all areas that we support our students,” said Courtney.
Courtney received some great advice from her parents when she was growing up. Her parents always emphasized that words are meaningless if not supported by action; this means you could say you’re going to do something, but they are meaningless if not supported with hard work and dedication. Today, Courtney still lives by this advice, working hard to help her students achieve their career goals.
Outside of work, Courtney loves spending time with her family and her 4-year-old nieces, Natalie and Brianna. She enjoys anything outdoorsy, including hiking, backpacking, and camping. Courtney also is very involved in community theater. “I do a lot of shows in the community theater, and I recently played Mary Poppins,” said Courtney.
Courtney said her favorite food is chicken, and she could eat it any and every way. “My all-time favorite is barbecue chicken on the grill with corn on the cob,” she said. If Courtney could have one superpower, it would be flying, so she could travel and see the world.
Are you looking for a college that truly cares about you? Do you want to start your path to a new, exciting career? Explore our career-focused college degree programs and request information now to get started!