Former New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Joins The Hunt Institute’s Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Advisory Board

Durham, N.C. –The Hunt Institute announced today the addition of Susana Martinez, former Governor of New Mexico, to The Institute’s Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Advisory Board. 

Gov. Martinez joins an elite group of 17 other former governors, all who put education at the center of their agendas, utilizing gubernatorial leadership as a lever to make systemic changes that resulted in improved student achievement.

“I’m thrilled to join the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Advisory Board and work alongside fellow governors who made education a top priority in their states,” said Gov. Martinez. “I’m looking forward to the experience as we have much work to do in ensuring our young people are provided the best educational opportunities.”

The Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows was named for renowned education governors Jim Hunt (D-NC; 1977-1985; 1993-2001) and Tom Kean (R-NJ; 1982-1990). Advisory Board members serve as experts and provide counsel to Fellows throughout their experience.

The Fellows program partners with senior-level political leaders who have the skill and will to be effective, reform-minded education policymakers at the state level. The national, nonpartisan Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program launched in the fall of 2014 and is currently in its fifth cohort of Fellows. The Fellows network consists of 90 Fellows from 48 states plus the District of Columbia and boasts four sitting governors, one U.S. Senator, one former governor and four current gubernatorial candidates.

“We’re honored to have Gov. Martinez as part of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Advisory Board,” said The Hunt Institute President & CEO Dr. Javaid Siddiqi. “With such an impressive background and diverse experience in making bold decisions across the education continuum, Gov. Martinez will add an essential voice and unique perspective to our Advisory Board.”  

Gov. Martinez was elected governor of New Mexico in 2010, serving two terms until 2018. She became New Mexico’s first female governor and the first Hispanic female governor in the history of the United States. As governor, she prioritized keeping New Mexico’s communities safe, ensuring all students receive a high-quality education, and diversifying and growing the state’s economy. Gov. Martinez implemented education reforms to raise academic standards, improve student learning and school performance, and close persistent achievement gaps.