Manuel Martínez, Ph.D.

In July 2024, Dr. Manuel Martínez was appointed as the first lay President of Dominican University New York.

As President of Dominican University, Dr. Martínez has immersed himself in campus life, meeting with students, faculty, and staff, while also being involved in community events and organizations. He is a member of the Rockland Business Association (RBA) Board of Directors, served as the Grand Marshal of the United Latin Parade and Festival in Haverstraw in August 2025, and was honored by the Center for Safety and Change during Hispanic Heritage Month in September 2024.

Dr. Martínez was born in Cuba and moved to Miami with his family when he was six years old. He began his career in the newspaper industry working in the corporate headquarters of what was then the second largest newspaper company in the United States, Knight-Ridder. Later, he worked extensively in Latin America selling heavy construction and mining equipment. At the age of 33, however, Dr. Martínez switched careers to academia to pursue his childhood dream.

Dr. Martínez holds a number of advanced academic degrees including: a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Literature from the University of Cincinnati; a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Ohio Dominican University; a Master of Arts in Spanish and Latin American Literature from the University of Cincinnati; and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from the University of Miami.

Before arriving at Dominican University, Dr. Martínez was the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of Faculty at Mercy College of Ohio, a hospital owned college which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and specializes in healthcare professions. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, working his way up from an Instructor of Spanish to Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and finally Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Martínez believes in the importance of balancing the benefits of a liberal arts education with workforce development and wants to ensure that Dominican University students have the skills that they need to be successful in life.