LSU chooses Martin

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 2, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Michael V. Martin is officially the pick to become LSU’s next chancellor, university officials said Sunday.

The New Mexico State University president said he came to a final decision Sunday with LSU System President John Lombardi. Martin said he continued discussing the matter his family and university officials over the weekend.

Martin, 61, interviewed May 20 and May 21 at LSU as the sole finalist for the chancellor position. He was unanimously recommended by LSU’s chancellor search committee.

Martin said he sees LSU as “another adventure” when reached by cell phone late Sunday. He said he is tentatively setting Aug. 1 as his LSU start date in what he says will be his final job.

“It was a real hard decision,” Martin said. “LSU represents, I think, another career challenge and another opportunity.”

His contract could be finalized Thursday by the LSU Board of Supervisors. Martin said it is unlikely he will attend Thursday’s regular board meeting because of a scheduling conflict, but his presence remains a possibility.

Lombardi previously hired Martin as a vice president at the University of Florida when Lombardi was president there.

Reuniting with “longtime friend” Lombardi was one major reason Martin gave for taking the LSU job.

Lombardi did not comment Sunday but, in a prepared statement, he said he is pleased to recommend Martin.

“LSU is exceptionally fortunate to be able to attract an academic leader with the experience and accomplishments of Mike Martin,” Lombardi said. 

LSU board chairman Jerry Shea, of New Iberia, said Sunday he is impressed with Martin’s strong background in fundraising, managing tight budgets and his academic expertise in agriculture and economics.

“We are very pleased he’s decided to come,” Shea said in a telephone interview. “I like him very much. I think he’s a very down-to-earth person.”

Some of Martin’s critics have described his personality style as too blunt and suffering from “foot-in-mouth disease.”