After graduating from Douglass in 1968, Dr. Susan Martin earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. An expert in international migration and immigration, Dr. Martin is the Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and founder of Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of International Migration. She is the past Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, and has published more than a dozen books and numerous articles on migration and refugee issues. Earlier in her career, Dr. Martin was the Director of Research and Programs at the Refugee Policy Group, a Washington-based center for analysis of U.S. and international refugee policy and programs. She was also an assistant professor in the American Studies Department of Brandeis University and a lecturer in the History of American Civilization Department at the University of Pennsylvania. At Douglass, Dr. Martin served as the Blanche, Edith, and Irving Laurie Chair in Women’s Studies from 2017-2018, which included organizing the Douglass Global Summit on “Forced Migration, Gender, and Global Allies.” Dr. Martin was also the keynote speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony in 2016 for the new Kathleen W. Ludwig Global Village Living-Learning Center
What was your most meaningful Douglass experience?
I am torn between two experiences. My first was during my time as an undergraduate when I worked on my senior thesis. I had always wanted to be a historian who specialized in US history, but doing the research for my thesis convinced me to pursue a Ph.D. in American Studies. My thesis adviser, Jane DeHart Mathews, was an inspiration to me in two respects. She convinced me that I could do original research and that, as a university professor, I could mentor other students as she did me.
My second experience was as an alumna. Dean Litt invited me to serve as the Laurie Chair in Women’s Studies during the 2017-2018 term. I taught a course on women and displacement, which gave me the opportunity to mentor a fantastic group of Douglass students interested in refugee issues. Helping them organize a conference, and seeing their success, was one of my most memorable experiences ever.
Why do you make charitable gifts to Douglass?
I make charitable gifts because it’s a way to give back to a college that was formative in my own personal and intellectual development. Based on my own experience in academia, I know that support from alumni is critical to a university’s success. My annual donation goes towards the Dean’s Excellence Fund—which allows the College to meet emerging needs. On a long-term basis, my bequest to Rutgers University will provide scholarships to students enrolled at Douglass who are interested in studying international issues. Our hope is that this support will enable Douglass women—today and in the future—to follow their dreams.
What are your words of inspiration for the class of 2020?
You should not see your graduation from university as the end of your educational experience; it is the beginning of the rest of your lives as learners. Whatever your future careers, it is your responsibility to be an informed citizen, and that requires you to continue to learn, be open to new ideas, and think critically. Use the tools that served you well as an undergraduate and you will be able to succeed. That doesn’t mean that you won’t fail at times, but you should know that you have the ability to learn from mistakes and do better the next time around. And, once you succeed, know that you too have an obligation to help others succeed as well.
