In a ceremony held at the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Annual Meeting, Harold L. Martin Sr., Chancellor Emeritus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, received the prestigious Peter McPherson Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor is bestowed on individuals whose careers reflect an unwavering commitment to the mission and service of public and land-grant universities.
“We’re delighted to recognize Harold Martin with the Peter McPherson Lifetime Achievement Award,,” stated APLU President Mark Becker. “Throughout his career, he not only led North Carolina A&T State University to new heights, but also championed and strengthened the public universities and HBCUs through his service on behalf of the community.”
Martin’s Impact on NC A&T
Dr. Martin’s tenure at NC A&T was marked by significant advancements in enrollment, research, and educational quality. Under his guidance from 2009 to 2024, the university became the largest HBCU in the nation in 2014. It has also continued to lead in producing African American graduates in STEM fields. Enrollment surged from 10,613 to an impressive 13,885 students by 2023.
Beyond enrollment growth, Dr. Martin steered NC A&T towards attaining R1-Very High Research Activity status within the Carnegie Classifications. NC A&T achieving the necessary metrics during his final year as chancellor.
In addition to his contributions at NC A&T, Dr. Martin has received numerous accolades for his dedication to education and leadership, including the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Educational Leader Award and the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest honor, which he will be presented later this week. His involvement extends to significant roles such as serving on the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the APLU Board of Directors.
The Peter McPherson Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for those who have served as chancellors or presidents of APLU institutions and have demonstrated a longstanding dedication to the ideals of public higher education. The award is named after Peter McPherson, who led APLU from 2006 to September 2022.
