Jenny S. Martinez Named Stanford’s 14th Provost
Jenny S. Martinez, dean of Stanford Law School and Richard E. Lang Professor of Law, has been named Stanford’s 14th provost, incoming President Richard Saller announced today.
Martinez will assume her new position on Oct. 1, succeeding Persis Drell, who served as provost since February 2017. Drell announced her decision to step down this fall. A search for a new dean of Stanford Law School will begin immediately, with Robert Weisberg serving as interim dean.
As provost, Martinez will oversee academic and budget administration for the university. She will work closely with the deans of Stanford’s seven schools and senior administrators in various areas, including research, student affairs, and undergraduate and graduate education.
Incoming President Saller expressed his confidence in Martinez, describing her as a highly respected scholar of international law and constitutional law. He praised her tenure as dean of Stanford Law School, highlighting her commitment to inclusion and academic freedom.
The provost search committee, led by Debra Satz, the Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, was thanked by President Saller for their efforts in selecting Martinez as the new provost.
Martinez expressed her honor in taking on the role and her excitement to collaborate with President Saller in advancing the university’s core missions of education and research.
Accomplishments at Stanford Law
Martinez’s tenure as dean of Stanford Law School is marked by notable achievements. One of these is the establishment of the Sally B. and William H. Neukom Center for the Rule of Law in 2022. This interdisciplinary hub focuses on advancing the rule of law worldwide through research, education, and practical initiatives.
Under Martinez’s leadership, the Law School has recruited new faculty members with diverse areas of expertise, ranging from legal history to artificial intelligence. The school offers joint degree programs and boasts a faculty with PhD degrees in disciplines beyond law.
Affordability has been a priority for Martinez, and she has expanded financial aid resources for SLS students. The school also offers a loan repayment program for students entering public service or public interest practice.
Martinez has been recognized for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. She established the Stanford Center for Racial Justice and supported mental health initiatives for students.
An advocate of intellectual diversity, Martinez has been a vocal supporter of academic freedom and freedom of speech. She has addressed disruptions of free speech events and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to these principles.
Academic and Legal Career
In addition to her role as dean and professor of law, Martinez is a senior fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. She previously served as associate dean for curriculum from 2013 to 2016.
Martinez is an experienced litigator and teaches courses on constitutional law and international law. Her expertise lies in the role of courts and tribunals in advancing human rights. She has authored several publications, including “The Slave Trade and the Origins of International Human Rights Law.”
Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a JD from Harvard Law School. Martinez clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She also worked at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
Martinez is a member of prestigious organizations such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Law Institute. She was appointed to the American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy and previously served on the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on International Law.