Chancellor Martin’s biography

Carolyn “Biddy” Martin began serving as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in September 2008.

As provost at Cornell University from 2000-2008, Martin served as the president’s first deputy officer and reported to the president as Cornell’s chief educational officer and chief operating officer. She was responsible for overseeing all academic programs, with the exception of those programs reporting to the provost for medical affairs in New York City.

Martin received her Ph.D. in German literature from UW-Madison in 1985. That same year, she joined Cornell’s faculty full time as an assistant professor of German studies and women’s studies. In 1991, she was promoted to associate professor in the Department of German Studies, with a joint appointment in the Women’s Studies Program. She served as chair of the Department of German Studies from 1994-1997, and in 1997 was promoted to full professor in the department. In 1996, she was named senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. Martin was appointed as provost at Cornell University effective July 1, 2000.

Martin is a distinguished scholar of German studies and author of numerous articles and two books — one on a literary and cultural figure in the Freud circle, Lou Andreas-Salomé, and a second on gender theory.