I was raised on a farm in southern Minnesota and studied history and English at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 1978 I came to the University of Notre Dame to study literature, and soon discovered that I loved advising and teaching as well. My primary area of academic interest is drama, particularly Shakespearean drama. My advising interests center around developing programs to enhance the intellectual engagement opportunities for undergraduates, as well as increasing opportunities for involvement in the fine arts.

I am married to David Kessler and have a  daughter, Emma, whose hobbies include Irish dance and playing with her cat, Nancy Drew.

Office Information:

 First Year of Studies
219 Coleman Morse Center
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN  46556
Phone:  (574) 631-7421
Fax:  (574) 631-8141

 

Holly Martin
 assistant dean


Educational Background

  • Ph.D., English, University of Notre Dame.
  • M.A., English, University of Notre Dame.
  • B.A., History and English, St. Olaf College.

Areas of Responsibility

  • Assists the Dean with administrative tasks and special projects.
  • Academic advisor to first-year students in a variety of areas but primarily those who are in the Glynn Family Honors Program.
  • Serves on various University wide committees including the University Committee on the First Year of Studies and the University Forum Preparation and Follow-up Committee.
  • Concurrent Assistant Professor, English Department, University of Notre Dame. 

Papers Delivered

  • "What do Advisors Teach," presentation as part of the First Year of Studies Symposium on Academic Orientation in the classroom.
  • "Constructing Learning Objectives for Academic Advising," paper delivered at the national Academic Advising Association Conference, and published in the same association's web-based Clearinghouse of Academic Resources.
  • "Advising Gifted Students: Teaching Academic Engagement Skills Through First Year Advising," paper delivered at National Academic Advising Association Conference.
  • "Building Academic Resilience," paper delivered at the National Academic Advising Association Conference in Ottawa, Canada.
  • "Advising Discouraged Students," paper delivered at the National Academic Advising Association Conference.
  • "Intensive Academic Support Systems for High Risk Students," paper delivered at the International Conference on the First Year Experience at Warwick University, Warwick, England.
  • "Working with First Year Students in Philosophy," "Working with First Year Students in Physics," "Working with Students who are Having Academic Difficulties," presentations to Graduate Teahing Assistants: Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Notre Dame.
  • "Freshman Year at the University of Notre Dame: A Double Team Approach," paper delivered at the Freshman Year Experience National Forum on New Student-Athletes.
  • "Professionalizing Tutorial Programs," paper delivered at the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics Conference.
  • "Intensive Academic Counseling," paper delivered at the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics Conference.

Courses Taught at the University of Notre Dame

  • English: Shakespearean Comedy.
  • English: Social Bonds and the Creation of Order in Shakespeare's Plays.
  • English: An Introduction to Drama Through Comedy.
  • First Year of Studies : Introduction to the Fine Arts at Notre Dame.
  • College of Arts & Letters :  Interviewing Techniques Practicum.
  • College of Arts & Letters : Arts & Letters Core Course, including Core Course faculty lectures on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, Euripides’The Bacchae, Faulkner’s "The Bear," Wills' Lincoln at Gettysburg, Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, and on teaching and grading writing.

Professional Associations

  • National Collegiate Honors Council.
  • National Academic Advising Association.
  • National Academic Advising Association Advisory Board

email: holly.e.martin.22@nd.edu

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