SIUE Doctor of Humane Letters Conferred to John Martinson
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, upon John Martinson this past weekend during SIUE’s commencement ceremonies. The Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters is bestowed upon individuals who have made a profound impact on SIUE, in line with its mission, vision and values.
John Martinson, MBA ’75, has been a venture capitalist and software industry leader for 40 years. He is chair of Martinson Ventures and remains an active individual investor and philanthropist. Martinson founded Edison Partners in 1986 and has been a member of the board of directors for 80 companies. His investment specialties include educational technology, digital health and marketing automation.
Martinson currently serves as chair of the Martinson Family Foundation which awards grants to educational and charitable programs. Under his leadership, the foundation has provided funding and advising for 50 multiple-year projects at 20 universities to improve K-12 instruction in mathematics, science, technology and engineering. Martinson has also funded five honors colleges and eight theater technology upgrades.
Martinson is a past chair and eight-year director of the National Venture Capital Association. He also served as the chair of PACT, a leading venture and technology trade group in the Philadelphia area, and co-founded the New Jersey Technology Council and the New Jersey Venture Fair. He was recently named among Top 50 US donors by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Martinson was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011. His contributions to the School of Business have supported current and future students and the broader community through “The Other 40” Entrepreneurship Competition, the SIUE Small Business Development Center and a high school entrepreneurship summer camp.
Martinson holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He flew over 500 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Martinson earned a master's degree in astronautics from Purdue University and an MBA Beta Gamma Sigma from SIUE. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from Rider University, Rowan University and Thomas Edison University. Martinson was selected as the 18th Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and received the Pinnacle Award from Purdue University for supporting engineering education programs.
Photo: (L-R) John Martinson and SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD.
