Martin University is pleased to announce three new members have been elected to its Board of Trustees. The Board comprises community, corporate, and alumni leaders charged with the legal authority, control, and responsibility of the University’s governance in institutional mission, planning, fiscal affairs, and related activities supporting the University and its strategic initiatives. New Trustees are:
Brigadier General Felica Brokaw, the Indiana National Guard’s first black female general, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Technology at Martin and recently received Martin’s Second Annual Distinguished Alumni Award. She has served more than 36 years in the military at every level across the state and, in 2006, was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the contract manager officer. Her most recent assignment was as the Guard’s human resource officer. Previously, she was commander of Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.
Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette has more than two decades of experience in higher education and a career that has spanned engineering, information technology, and public service. She is the President-Emeritus of Huston-Tillotson University, Austin’s oldest institution of higher learning and only Historical Black College and University, making her the first female president of the merged university and the second in the institution’s 140-year history.
Mr. Haskell D. “Danny” Portee is a U.S. Army veteran who earned several degrees and certifications while serving his county. After his Army retirement, he founded Professional Management Enterprises (PME), an Indianapolis-based professional staffing company providing services nationwide. Leading his company by example as CEO, he has served as a community activist and impassioned advocate who builds alliances, engages on issues affecting the quality of life, and strengthens communities. A member of numerous boards, he is also a mentor, motivational speaker, and volunteer career counselor.
“We welcome these three outstanding community leaders to the Board of Trustees,” said Martin University Board Chair Joseph M. Perkins, Jr. “They each bring a variety of knowledge and experiences that will contribute greatly to our Board and its responsibilities.”
“Each of these individuals fits perfectly into the culture of Martin University,” said Martin President Dr. Sean L. Huddleston. “They all have a servant leader’s heart and have been very successful in their careers, which serves as an example and role model for our students.”
Founded in 1977, Martin University is Indiana's only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) of higher education. It is steeped in a history of service, and its mission is to educate and develop diverse workforce-ready students in an inclusive, supportive, and collegiate environment. Martin University's vision is to elevate the landscape while providing transformative opportunities, inclusive support, and service to our communities.