About Michael Martin

Contact Information

Office: Harvey Hall 202E
Phone: 715-232-1319
Fax: 715-232-2093
E-mail: martinm@uwstout.edu

My Beginnings

I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, but really call myself an Iowan, because that's where I grew up (Sioux City to be exact). I was adopted and grew up with two siblings; I was a middle child in my adopted family. After graduating from high school, I entered the Marine Corps at the ripe ol' age of 17. I was a giant of a person (5'4" and a whopping 112 pounds). Bootcamp was a little shocking.

Education

After the Marines and some muddling around, I ended up in Blair, Nebraska where I was a student at Dana College. Even then, I managed to spend a year at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. I returned and graduated from Dana in 1983 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History and Humanities. The education I received at Dana was outstanding. I credit those professors with helping me to understand what it means to be a professor. It is so much more than teaching. After that I went to Luther Northwestern Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota where I received my Master's of Divinity degree in 1988. Then it was on to Northeastern Pennsylvania where I was a parish pastor for 4 years.

Next, I found myself in the U.P. by way of Suomi College, now called Finlandia University, where I was the campus pastor and an instructor for two years. Then after a year off, I went back to school at MTU where I received my Ph.D.. The Humanities Department there is top notch and if you want to learn more, please visit the departmental webpage. I have been in contact with a number of them lately and have been missing amazing Lake Superior.

Current Roles

I have finished my fifth year at the University of Wisconsin-Stout as an Assistant Professor of Technical Communication; I am headed into the fall making some changes, focusing on the program as well as internship/co-op/practicum issues. I think those things will keep me busy. I am teacing two preps and I have a couple other writing things to complete. There is always something to do.

I have been busy with teaching, departmental and university responsibilities as well as trying to write and do research. I did get a book published this past spring and I taught online again for the summer. I am also doing some freelancing work and that will also lead to some new options. I did do a little riding on the Harley this summer (about 4,000 miles) and will do some more before the season is out.

Coming back to Wisconsin was like coming home as my relatives some generations back immigrated to Richland Center, Wisconsin where they were dairy farmers. In fact, my older cousins remember coming as small children to visit relatives there. I hope to get there sometime and see what the area looks like and see if I can get more information. I am hopeful that I will be in another place at some point.

Thanks for reading my thoughts and things about my life.

~Michael Martin August 2008~