Martin Lemelle

Martin Lemelle, Jr. serves as the 11th President of Grambling State University, bringing a wealth of leadership experience, financial acumen, and a deep-seated commitment to advancing higher education. As a third-generation alumnus of the institution, Lemelle embodies a family legacy of higher education leadership and a profound dedication to the university’s mission.

Prior to assuming the presidency, Lemelle served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. His tenure was marked by visionary leadership and strategic financial management, strengthening the operations of the nation’s oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design.

With an extensive background in finance and operations spanning several prestigious organizations, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, IBM, General Electric, Dean Foods, and Industry Retail Group, Lemelle has managed budgets collectively valued at approximately $6.5 billion. His track record reflects an exceptional ability to steward large-scale financial operations, lead organizational transformation, and drive sustainable success.

Lemelle previously played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Grambling State University during his tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. His accomplishments include helping secure the university’s largest corporate gift at the time and significantly improving its fiscal health score by 200 percent, underscoring his strategic insight and unwavering commitment to institutional stability and growth.

In 2025, Lemelle was appointed to serve a three-year term on the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity, and Impact. For a university that has helped shape generations of student-athletes with limited resources but limitless determination, the appointment represents a meaningful affirmation of Grambling State’s place in the national higher education and athletics discourse.