James R. Martin II, Ph.D., was elected the 13th chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on June 21, 2024, by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors, following a nomination by UNC System President Peter Hans. He will officially begin his role on August 15, 2024.
Martin currently serves as Vice Chancellor for STEM Research and Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh, where he leads initiatives to enhance the university's $1.3 billion research portfolio and expand STEM access. He has been instrumental in fostering research collaborations, developing innovation ecosystems, and connecting rural and urban research efforts. Additionally, he serves as a senior advisor to national policy and funding agencies and is involved with organizations like the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
Previously, Martin was the U.S. Steel Dean of Engineering at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, where he drove record growth in research, student enrollment, and faculty diversity. His leadership improved retention and graduation rates, while also advancing key industry and government partnerships. Before Pitt, Martin served as a professor and chair at Clemson University, where he led curriculum development, drove research growth, and established pioneering industry collaborations.