Martin posing before the 2004 installation of the mountain lion statue… 
…and striking the same pose 12 years later when the statue was moved to its current location on El Pomar Plaza, with donor Chan Bergen looking on 
Martin handing his daughter, Michelle, her diploma at her 2012 graduation from UCCS 
Martin celebrating the opening of the UCCS Mountain Lion Park 
Martin celebrating cybersecurity legislation with Governor Hickenlooper on campus 
Martin celebrating the five-year anniversary of the opening of UCCS Downtown 
Martin at a UCCS Advancement team-building event 
Martin celebrating the opening of the Kevin W. O’Neil Cybersecurity Education and Research Center 
Martin receiving the 2018 Outstanding Fundraising Executive award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Colorado 
Martin Wood with Mayor Yemi Mobolade
Senior Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Martin Wood has announced his retirement, effective August 4, 2025, after 31 years at UCCS.
“Martin Wood’s impact on UCCS has been truly immeasurable,” said Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet. “For more than three decades, he has been a driving force behind the university’s growth, forging invaluable partnerships, securing transformational funding, and strengthening our ties with the community. His dedication, vision, and leadership have left a lasting mark on this institution, and I am deeply grateful for his service.”
Martin came to the university in 1993 as a Vice President with the CU Foundation. In 2004 he moved to UCCS to build a new University Advancement division, overseeing development, alumni relations, marketing communications, community relations, government and military relations, as well as executive events and public-private partnerships. He has served as Vice Chancellor for the past twenty years, working with four different chancellors, and served on the chancellor’s leadership team for over thirty-one years.
“It has truly been an honor and privilege to spend a large part of my career at UCCS,” he said. “I feel very fortunate to have come to the campus in the early nineties and be a part of the explosive growth that took place over a decade. I had four great chancellors to work with: Linda Bunnell-Shade, Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Venkat Reddy and Jennifer Sobanet.”
“A big thank you to the faculty, staff, deans and vice chancellors I’ve worked with over the years,” Martin continued. “The campus/community relationship is very special and so critical to the development of the university. It has been a joy to work with so many community leaders and build great things together.”
Under his leadership, the university fundraising team raised over $320 million dollars, and the endowment has grown to nearly $100 million. Martin also led efforts to raise over twenty individual gifts of a million-plus dollars and led fundraising efforts to build and name eight buildings, as well as secure naming rights for an additional nine buildings and key facilities on campus.
Martin was critical in negotiating many landmark projects for UCCS, including the establishment of UCCS Downtown in 2018 and, in 2004, the acquisition of the marble mountain lion that rests on El Pomar Plaza.
Other vital campus projects with Martin’s stamp on them include the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, the acquisition of the building that houses University Hall, and the acquisition of the building that houses UCCS cybersecurity.
Martin also co-founded UCCS Regional Connect and the Chamber Colorado Springs Leadership trips. He was part of the community team that won the City for Champions projects and led a university team that worked with then-Governor John Hickenlooper to designate UCCS as the statewide higher education leader in cybersecurity and create the National Cybersecurity Center.
An active leader in the community, Martin has contributed to numerous boards, notably serving as chair of the Penrose Hospital Community Board, Colorado Springs Chamber/EDC, Colorado Springs Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Colorado Springs Sports Corp, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, National Cybersecurity Center, Pikes Peak Waterways, and the Colorado Springs Regional Leadership Forum.
He has collected many community accolades and was a recipient of the 2010 Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Profiles in Leadership award and a recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Fundraising Executive award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Colorado. In 2018, he received a special Chancellor’s award for his work in cybersecurity. Martin is also a 2008 graduate of the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute and, from 2022-2024, was selected as an Honorary Commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
As Martin is ending his 47th year in higher education, he isn’t saying goodbye. He will be returning to the university in early August in a part-time role as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, working and advising her on key strategic programs.
“I’m thrilled that Chancellor Sobanet has asked me to continue after retirement as a Senior Advisor to the Chancellor in a part-time role, supporting key campus programs and activities,” Martin said. “I have been fortunate to live the Mark Twain quote, ‘find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.’”