On Dec. 1, 2024, Kelly Norris Martin was officially welcomed as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), following her role as interim dean, a position she held since April 2023. Martin’s appointment signals a new phase of leadership for CLA, emphasizing community integration and collaborations with other colleges.
A Strong Foundation
Martin, originally from North Carolina, moved to the Rochester area in 2011. Martin came to RIT with considerable experience, having acquired an interdisciplinary doctorate in communication, rhetoric and digital media, as well as experience in writing and public relations. Martin initially joined RIT as a professor in the School of Communication, teaching courses such as Campaign Management and Planning, Copywriting and Visualization and Digital Design in Communication. By January 2022, Martin rose to associate dean for faculty and staff affairs before eventually transitioning into the interim dean position. In this role, she represented CLA at the university level in meetings and visited other institutions in New York City, D.C. and Croatia to gain insights on how to improve and strengthen the college. In addition to her academic and administrative responsibilities, Martin co-founded RIT’s Expressive Communication Center, a resource for students to develop presentation skills in front of large groups.
Engagement by Connection
Martin’s tenure begins after a recent history of turnover in CLA leadership. When Anna Stenport stepped down as dean in March 2023, CLA faced challenges navigating the search for new leadership. With the need for steady guidance more pressing than ever, the institution turned to Martin to fill the interim dean role. Recognizing the importance of stability, Martin has prioritized direct engagement with students. She hosts events such as Donuts With the Dean, where CLA students can learn more about their dean in a casual setting, and sends monthly newsletters to keep the community informed about the college’s developments.
“I’d like to communicate with [students] more about available opportunities and share the direction I believe the college is heading. The plan moving forward is more consistency and more communication,” Martin expressed.
Martin’s leadership philosophy centers around connecting CLA students to the greater RIT community. “I feel like there’s been a history where [CLA students] felt kind of separated … I don’t want them to feel like that. I want them to know just how integral they are to the rest of campus and feel as though … they’re involved in just as many important projects,” Martin explained.
She is also committed to exploring opportunities for interdisciplinary programs, such as the proposed undergraduate major in artificial intelligence. While the program will primarily be based out of the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, Martin believes that CLA will be a large contributor to its success.
“I think we’re at a point where people recognize that you can’t just have those technical skills … it really helps to be able to collaborate with others, to be able to work with people in an interdisciplinary way, and I think the university recognizes that,” Martin noted.
Moving forward, Martin is focused on charting an effective path as a leader. She is optimistic about CLA’s ability to effectively prepare its graduates after college and intends to continue that trend during her tenure.
“There’s so much you can read about leadership and there’s so many different opinions about what makes a good leader. I think for me, what I hope to gain is a true understanding of what approach is best for me as a leader.”
