Remembering Dr. Deanna Martin
A Legacy of Learning: Dr. Deanna Martin's Global Impact in Higher Education
It is with deep sadness and humble admiration that the International Center announces the passing of Dr. Deanna Martin, a visionary leader and a pioneering figure in the field of higher education. As the founder of the Supplemental Instruction (SI) model, her innovative approach to collaborative learning has transformed academic support in higher education, improving student retention and success in institutions worldwide.
Dr. Martin’s work cultivated a global network of educators, all committed to fostering student connectedness and academic excellence. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on higher education, and her legacy will continue to inspire educators for generations to come.
To honor Dr. Martin’s profound impact and serve as a lasting tribute to a remarkable life, please leave a comment below sharing the impact Supplemental Instruction (SI) has had on your life.
12 Responses
Thank you Dr. Martin for this program. I attended sessions and later became an SI Leader. I am grateful and proud to contribute to this program for the past 3 semesters. It gave me a place to overcome collaboration anxiety and make connections while in college. SI has given me a space to be involved and contribute to campus life when I was initially anxious to find a place I could fit. Rest in peace
Thank you Dr. Martin, for helping my students succeed – but more than, for making me a better instructor – no, a better educator, in every sense of the word. You changed learning for many, including this old chemistry teacher. And for that I am eternally grateful. I will continue to promote your work and its benefits for as long as I am in education and I am certain your work will continue to enlighten for decades to come.
SI has changed my life. When I first learned about it, I knew that I wanted to be involved. I became part of a team that developed an SI program on our campus (MavPASS). It very quickly grew and has had a major impact on the thousands of students it has served as well as on the lives of those who are blessed enough to be a part of delivering this amazing service to students. Thank you Deanna–for changing my life and the lives of SO many students!
What a blessing to be able to say that your work literally changed the world of higher education?!? It was my pleasure to meet Deana Martin at one of many International SI Conferences over the course of my career. She was thoughtful and humble, interested in talking about the importance of the work, and I was honored to have even a few minutes of her time.
Becoming an SI Leader quite literally changed the path of my professional life. And I couldn’t be more grateful for that and for her work.
While I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Martin personally, know that she has had an impact on thousands of students and professionals all over the world. In addition to helping countless students better understand content in their courses, she has created a program model that helps students gain confidence, develop growth mindsets, and leadership abilities that extend beyond the classroom. Few people have the kind of impact Dr. Martin has had, and her memory will live on in every student who is helped by SI.
Dr. Deanna Martin has left a widespread and significant impact on the landscape of higher education and academic success for college students globally. While I never met Dr. Martin, her impact on me personally and throughout my career trajectory is critical.
We can continuously speak highly about the impact of Supplemental Instruction on academic success, exam scores, DFW rates, and retention rates. However, to me, the most important impact that SI has had on my life is community. As a former SI Leader, the connections I built on my college campus through my role empowered me to become a more confident and empathetic individual. I was constantly inspired by the students I worked with to be a better leader. I have maintained so many wonderful friendships with my former SI students and former coworkers in the SI Program. Now, as a Program Coordinator, it brings me great joy to see the connections our SI Leaders make with each other and with their students. Lastly, with my work in the International Center, I have built priceless connections with SI Colleagues around the glob who continue to inspire me as a professional. Thank you, Deanna, for your legacy of community, collaboration, and student success.
Although I never had a chance to meet Dr. Martin, I’m so grateful for her life’s work to develop and disseminate the Supplemental Instruction model she founded. When I describe SI to people in my non-work life, almost invariably they tell me, “I wish we had a service like that when I was in school!” It’s tempting to think that SI would have been discovered at some point by someone else, but I could imagine a scenario where it could have gone very differently: the model could have been trademarked, standardized, controlled, and monetized. I’m glad that Dr. Martin so generously shared knowledge about SI for free, helped many schools start their own SI programs, and supported the networks within and across regions. As a result, SI is very adaptable to fit a wide variety of institutional contexts.
That SI sits at the confluence of social justice and academic support is not an accident; it is the design of a wise woman who came up with an innovative response to meet a community need. We will honour her memory by innovating academic support and sharing our knowledge generously, in the spirit of Dr. Martin.
I am deeply grateful for Dr. Deanna Martin and Supplemental Instruction (SI). Without SI, I might not have finished college—not because of my grades, but because I lacked a sense of community on campus and often felt lost and alone.
SI gave me a place to belong and a way to give back. Being an SI Leader defined my college experience, and I can’t imagine where my life would be without a program that champions collaboration, interaction, and empowers everyday students to support one another. I am truly honored to carry on Dr. Martin’s legacy by expanding this impactful model and supporting the incredible community it fosters.
I had the pleasure of first meeting Deanna at the very first International SI/PASS Conference I attended in 2004 in Boston. Deanna was already retired at that point but she had been asked to deliver the Welcome Address on the opening evening. I was struck by how inspiring she was and her passion and enthusiasm for both the Conference attendees in the ballroom and the global PASS community was very evident. I had the pleasure of meeting Deanna at subsequent International Conferences and CT meetings and of hosting Deanna and Robert at our Australian Conference in 2009. Being involved with this amazing program developed and fostered by Deanna changed my professional working life and took me in new and inspiring directions. Deanna’s work, immense enthusiasm and unwavering commitment leaves an immeasurable legacy for generations of students and staff and her passion and generosity in sharing her knowledge will be very fondly remembered.
My SI journey began years ago as an undergraduate SI Leader. I never imagined that one experience would literally change my life. Not only did serving as an SI Leader alter my education trajectory but also helped me discover my calling in academic support. Through SI, I am continually challenged to step out of my comfort zone, to get comfortable being uncomfortable, and to keep growing through reflection. Now, as an SI Supervisor, I have the privilege to pay it forward by fostering academic and leadership development in my student SI Leaders. Their growth personally and professionally is a constant reminder of the transformative power of SI. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Deanna Martin for creating this impactful academic support program, the SI lessons I have learned, and the incredibly SI connections I have made. It truly is an honor to be a part of the SI family.
I feel a great sense of loss in hearing this news. Like many, she has had a profound impact on my academic and professional journey in many ways. During my undergraduate degree SI/PASS was my lifeline, helping me navigate the complexities of my studies, and as a PASS leader, I was able to support my peers in much the same way. The experience not only shaped my leadership skills but also inspired my passion for student success, which carried forward into my former role as a PASS Coordinator. Now as a CT and after all these years, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the further development and success of the PASS program. One of the many beautiful legacies of Deanna’s work is the ripple effect – its ability to inspire growth, development, and positive change in the lives of students and educators alike.
Her work has truly set the foundation for a model that continues to help students worldwide. Deanna’s vision extended beyond her own institution and touched countless lives across the globe. Deanna’s legacy in higher education will continue to resonate for generations. Her approach is a testament to her dedication to academic equity and excellence. I owe much of my own academic and professional development to the pathways she created. Her impact on my life and the lives of so many others is truly immeasurable.
Serving as a Supplemental Instruction leader greatly impacted my college experience. It allowed me to build transferable skills that extend well beyond the role of a college student. It also enabled me to build stronger connections with both faculty and the students who regularly attended my Spanish SI sessions. As a Spanish double major, leading those sessions helped me reinforce the course content each week.
I am eternally grateful for the academic support program that Dr. Deanna Martin created. It provided so many other students like myself the opportunity to make an impact on our fellow students’ academic journeys in our own ways, while also giving us a sense of pride as we continued a legacy that has spanned decades and was founded out of a necessity to provide equitable experiences for all students, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.
Thank you, Dr. Deanna Martin, for inspiring so many to continue this important work and for personally motivating me to share the significance of programs like Supplemental Instruction. I’m certain that we will see another 50 years of success as your legacy lives on.