Dr. Susan W. Martin was raised in Croswell, Michigan where she attended classes at a one-room schoolhouse. She recevied her B.S. in 1971 from Central Michigan University, her MBA in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1988 from Michigan State University. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority at Central Michigan University from 1967-71.

Martin began her career as a secretary in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Texas at Austin. After moving back to Michigan, she served at Michigan State University as well as in government as Assistant Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General, Deputy State Treasurer, Bureau of Local Government Services and Commissioner of Revenue.

When Martin returned to high education it was to work at Grand Valley State University as the Master of Science in Taxation Program Coordinator, Director of the International Business Programs, Chair of the Accounting and Taxation Department, Professor of Accounting and Taxation, Assistant & Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Special Assistant to the Provost, and Executive Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Martin served as provost and vice-chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn from 2006-08.

Dr. Martin has served as assistant auditor general for the State of Michigan, deputy state treasurer for the Bureau of Local Government Services for Michigan, Commissioner of revenue, chair fo the Michigan State Hospital Finance Authority for 21 years, and ex-officio representative for Governer Jennifer Granholm on the Detroit Medical Center Financial Emergency Task Force in 2003-2004. At the Federal level, she served on the Internal Revenue Service Commissioners Advisory Council from 2002-2004 and the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Council from 1998-2000.

Dr. Martin is a member of the boards of directors of the Michigan Educational Trust as well as Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization that seeks to bring businesses to the Ann Arbor area. Dr. Martin received her Ph.D. in business/accounting and MBA from Michigan State University, and earned a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University. She is married to Dr. Larry Martin, professor of economics at Michigan State University, and has three children and three grandchildren.

Martin joined Eastern Michigan University as its 22nd and first female President in 2008. She served the University for seven years and in March of 2015 announced that she 'would be moving on to the next chapter of her life.' Her last date of service to the University in the capacity of President was July 7, 2015.