A look back with Professor Martin

Start year: Martin began his education as a 21-year-old, where he attended Mt. San Antonio College from 1970-71. There he earned his A.A. degree before moving on to California State University, Los Angeles where he earned his B.A. and M.S. Martin later earned his Ph.D. from UCLA. Best thing: As a college student, Martin had a variety of experiences. Not only did he tutor blind students, but he also headed up the Foreign Student Club.

Other noteworthy accomplishments included organizing club parties, putting on a talent/dinner show, and single handedly getting the board of trustees to roll back tuition for foreign students.

Worst thing: "The worst thing about college was my being denied membership to the veterans club, as I was a draftee. I had major problems getting my veteran benefits and I couldn't benefit from this club's resources," Martin said. "I was pretty bitter about this."

Study abroad: Martin never formally studied abroad, but during summer breaks and time off school, he sought to travel the world.

"Between my freshman and sophomore year, I hitch-hiked across North Africa. The next summer I bought an old Volkswagen and drove from Germany to Saudi Arabia. After my senior year and before attending graduate school, I spent the summer in South Asia, mainly India," he said.

Advice: "My educational philosophy, as the Greeks said, is to 'know thyself,' as the unexamined life is not worth living," Martin said.

He believes in hard work, and that passive learning isn't enough. "If you bring nothing to the table, you end up taking nothing away."

Student comment: "I imagine Dr. Martin as a college student and think he was probably one testing, authority-bucking individual who always strived to better the system. That's what I learned as a student of his throughout the three courses which I've had him as a professor," Carol Calandra said of her instruction from Martin.