State , U . S . Department of Labor , the Environmental Protection Agency and the SEC , not to mention about a half dozen academics and practitioners who care about the same issues as I do . That was very memorable to me .”
Martin is a part of the executive board for the Association of American Law Schools committee on scholarship , as well as the executive committee for the Agency and Unincorporated Associations Group and a part of the steering committee for WVU ’ s Women ’ s Leadership Initiative .
“ I try and take a diffuse approach to giving back . At work , I strive to be a mentor to students , particularly students of color or students who have no prior interaction with lawyers ,” says Martin . “ I also give back through my church . I remember a person I respect saying , ‘ We shouldn ’ t just tithe with our money but with our time .’ That statement always stuck with me , and I try to emulate it when I can .”
Martin believes her greatest impact is with her students . She calls it a consistent source of joy . She also makes mentoring a part of her day-to-day life with students .
“ The secret about teaching the law is that so little of it is actually about teaching students the substance . Instead ,
what the best law professors do is teach students how to learn any area of the law for themselves . I view my role as a facilitator in that ,” she says .
Throughout the years , Martin has also been given a platform to speak on passionate issues .
“ Over the years , I ’ ve had the opportunity to speak at the United Nations in Geneva on issues relating to business and human rights ,” she says . “ Also , a couple of years ago I was asked to co-edit a casebook that students use in their international human rights class . That felt very powerful to me . The co-editor , David Weissbrodt , was a legend in my field , so having him ask me to help rework the book and having the free reign he gave me to completely restructure it was very affirming — especially because he really liked how I changed it . For me , that casebook is impactful because I know it ’ s something that students will use in a classroom and professors will rely on when they teach . The book was finally published a couple of weeks before David passed . I was so grateful that he had been able to see the book in print and hold it in his hands . I am glad he knew his legacy would live on .”
No longer a big city girl , Martin plans to keep calling Morgantown home .
“ It ’ s funny , I knew almost nothing
about West Virginia before I moved here , yet this place has felt more like home than all the other places I ’ ve lived ,” she says . “ Specifically , it ’ s the place where I feel community in all aspects of my life . In other places I ’ ve lived , I might have only felt community in my professional circle or at my church . Here , I truly feel embedded in my community both professionally and personally . As the kid who moved around every few years , this is one of the greatest gifts I could have been given .” •
WWW . WVEXECUTIVE . COM SUMMER 2022 117