Chancellor James R. Martin II Inducted into Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 26, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's Chancellor James R. Martin II has been inducted into the 2026 class of the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence, one of the highest honors awarded to alumni of Virginia Tech's College of Engineering.

Martin was recognized alongside four distinguished inductees during a ceremony honoring engineering leaders whose careers have demonstrated extraordinary contributions to research, innovation, public service and institutional leadership. Since the Academy’s establishment in 1999, fewer than 200 individuals have been inducted from among more than 82,000 living alumni of the College of Engineering worldwide.

“This is a tremendous honor for which I am deeply grateful,” said Martin. “Virginia Tech provided an extraordinary foundation that shaped both my career and my understanding of leadership, service and purpose. The experiences and mentorship I received there created opportunities that profoundly influenced every chapter of my professional life.”

An internationally recognized authority in civil engineering, Martin has built a distinguished career in geotechnical earthquake engineering, disaster risk management and infrastructure resilience. His pioneering research has informed national building standards and strengthened engineering practices designed to improve public safety and mitigate risk in communities around the world.

Throughout his career, Martin has led global field teams studying the impacts of major earthquakes in Turkey, Japan and across the United States, contributing critical research and advancing international understanding of disaster resilience and risk reduction. Prior to his appointment as chancellor of North Carolina A&T, he served in senior academic and research leadership roles, including as director of the Disaster Risk Management Institute at Virginia Tech.

Since assuming leadership of A&T, Martin has advanced a bold institutional vision centered on research growth, student success, innovation and national prominence. His leadership continues to strengthen the university’s position as America’s leading historically Black university for research and development, while expanding its impact across engineering, technology, economic mobility and workforce preparation.

Martin’s induction into the Academy of Engineering Excellence further reflects the caliber of leadership guiding A&T at a pivotal moment in the university’s trajectory. As the institution continues to expand its research enterprise, elevate academic distinction and deepen its national influence, the recognition underscores the alignment between Martin’s globally respected expertise and the university’s growing role as a leader in innovation, discovery and public impact.

During the induction ceremony, Martin reflected on the profound influence Virginia Tech and several key mentors had on his professional journey, including a special congratulatory video tribute from Wayne Clough, president emeritus of Georgia Institute of Technology and former dean of Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering.

The Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence recognizes alumni who have achieved the highest levels of professional distinction and whose careers exemplify sustained excellence, visionary leadership and meaningful contributions to society through engineering and innovation.