色多多

A May 6 letter obtained by The 色多多 shows a clear division between faculty and Martin, who became Ferrum College鈥檚 13th president in 2023 after serving in an interim role. In the letter, Martin is said to foster a 鈥渢oxic work environment and culture of fear鈥� among staff at the college.

The letter states that faculty held a May 2 vote of no confidence in Martin鈥檚 leadership. Of the 44 faculty members present for the vote, 87% voted no confidence.

Abigail Jamison, chair of the faculty council, sent the letter on behalf of the faculty to W. Jeffrey Booker, first chair of the college鈥檚 board of trustees.

鈥淔aculty have been told repeatedly that Dr. Martin was hired at Ferrum College in order to be a 鈥榗hange agent.鈥� We the faculty want to be clear that we fully support the objective of the Board of Trustees to transform and reinvigorate Ferrum College after many years of administrative neglect. We agree that an agent of change with significant knowledge of financial, business, and academic management should lead this effort. However, Dr. Martin has proven that she lacks the ability to be transparent about her management philosophy or her approach to transforming the college鈥檚 operations. Because of this and other serious issues with her management style, the faculty maintains that she has failed and will continue to fail in her efforts to move the College to a place of long-term sustainability and thriving,鈥� the letter reads.

Multiple emails and phone calls to Ferrum College and Martin from The 色多多 requesting comment were not returned. Jamison stated by email that, given her position as faculty council chair, she could not provide any additional details regarding the matter.

The vote of no confidence comes as the private college makes the move to NCAA Division II athletics as a provisional member for the 2025-26 academic year, the first of a two-year transition period to become a full DII member. The school moved from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in Division III to become the 16th member of Conference Carolinas as of July 1.

It also comes as Ferrum has had four presidents since 2016, a leadership churn that coincides with declining enrollment, though small colleges across the country have struggled with enrollment due to first, the coronavirus pandemic, and second, demographics, with fewer students seeking a college education.

Ferrum had stability and enrollment growth under former president Jennifer Braaten from 2002 to 2016. Her successor, Jody Spooner, stayed only 10 months. He was followed by David Johns, who came from a small college in Kentucky and served from 2018 to late 2022, when he resigned amid reports he was a finalist for two other college presidencies out of state. Martin served as interim president from January to October 2023, when the board of trustees appointed her president. She was formally invested as president at graduation in May 2024.

Martin has put an emphasis enrolling more students, visiting numerous high schools in the region, and inviting students and teachers to visit Ferrum. She also expanded efforts to reduce the cost of college, particularly for first-year students, through a program called the Panther Promise, and to bolster ties with nearby community colleges.

Martin had served as president of small colleges in West Virginia and Kansas, and as dean of the business school at Virginia State University. She earned a master鈥檚 in business administration from the University of Richmond and a doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Martin is accused, in the faculty letter, of not clearly communicating with the faculty and staff concerning key decisions made that have destroyed trust. The letter also states she discourages faculty attempts at feedback and has publicly referred to members of senior leadership team as 鈥渄umb-dumbs鈥� while the member was present.

鈥淭his behavior has created a toxic and demoralizing environment in which leadership is defined by fear, misdirection, and shifting of blame rather than collaboration, trust, or competence. Faculty are left uncertain not only about institutional priorities, but also about who, if anyone, is actually steering the College forward. The breakdown in communication, disregard for shared governance, and public belittling of colleagues have made it impossible to foster the kind of healthy and productive campus culture that is essential to the success of any academic institution,鈥� the letter reads.

The letter goes on to state that Martin has 鈥渇ostered a campus culture marked by intimidation, fear and retaliation.鈥� That faculty fear voicing their concerns which, according to the letter, has damaged the college鈥檚 ability to function as a collaborative and innovative institution.

There are also accusations in the letter that Martin has not demonstrated any improvement in the college鈥檚 enrollment, retention or institutional stability in her two and a half years at the helm. The letter states that both Martin and Booker have asserted that a student enrollment of 1,300 is necessary to balance the budget.

Martin told The 色多多 a year ago that the college鈥檚 鈥渟weet spot鈥� for enrollment was 1,100, but problems with the federal financial aid enrollment process that plagued many schools were going to keep it below that again for 2024-25.

Student enrollment at Ferrum College has dropped to fewer than 800 students in the past few years, the letter asserts. Enrollment has continued to drop year after year with 2015 being one of the last years the college has seen more than 1,300 students.

鈥淔aculty cannot, in good conscience, continue under a leadership that prioritizes control over collaboration, power over progress, and intimidation over innovation. The damage done to the institution鈥檚 morale, mission and personnel is extensive and ongoing. Dr. Martin鈥檚 leadership is no longer tenable, and her continued presence poses a threat to the integrity and future of Ferrum College,鈥� the letter reads.

In the letter, faculty urge the college鈥檚 board of trustees to remove Martin and to consider running a national and collaborative search for a new president. They also request that members of the campus community be part of the process.

Ferrum College鈥檚 next board of trustees meeting is set for Sept. 19.