By: Christian Oberly
PITMAN, N.J. — Faculty, staff, and students at Salem Community College are mourning the passing of beloved Associate Professor of English Jennifer Martin.
“We remember Jenn’s unwavering dedication to SCC. We also celebrate her extraordinary talents that she exuberantly and unselfishly shared with students, colleagues, and community members. Her energy, compassion, and love of learning were a mainstay on campus for over a decade,” the school said in a statement. “Please keep the Martin family in your thoughts and prayers. Friends, colleagues, and students are invited to Jenn’s viewing on Friday evening and the service on Saturday.”
Jennifer Karen Martin (46) described herself as “a mother of six (three children, three dogs) who also somehow finds time to enjoy reading and writing–usually at 4:00 a.m. with a pot of strong coffee.” She earned a B.S. from the University of Scranton; a M.Ed. in Adult Education from Rutgers University, New Brunswick; a CoGS in Postsecondary Literacy Instruction from the University of Cincinnati; and a M.A. of Writing from Rowan University.
She started at Salem Community College in August of 2012 as an Assistant Professor and over her 11 years at the school she taught developmental English, first-year composition and speech communication courses, business writing, and American literature. She served on the advisory board for the New Jersey Council for Community Colleges Center for Student Success, was a past-president of the New Jersey Association for Developmental Education (NJADE), and was the board president of LiteracyNJ, Burlington County Chapter.
“[She] has delivered presentations on topics related to developmental education at the National Association of Developmental Education (NADE) annual conference and at several New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning (NJALL)/NJADE annual conferences. Jennifer was a founder and co-editor of Salem Community College’s online literary and arts magazine, From the Oak Desk,” her faculty page on the SCC website says.
Jennifer was a fixture of the SCC community, always striving to help her students excel. Outside of the classroom, she also volunteered as president of the advisory board for Gateway CAP’s Literacy Volunteers of Salem & Cumberland, a program that offers free one-on-one tutoring to adults who struggle with reading, writing, or speaking English.
She is survived by her husband of 21 years Matthew Patrick Martin, her children: Kathleen Anne Martin, Patrick Walker Martin, Jason Thomas Martin, her parents Donna and Howard, her brothers David and Marc, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Jennifer’s full obituary can be viewed on nj.com, including details about her visitation and service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the SCC Foundation, which provides scholarships for SCC students in need of financial assistance.
Salem Community College Foundation
460 Hollywood Ave.
Carneys Point, NJ 08069
- Beyond the Game: The South Jersey Pros Making a Difference Off the Field
- When South Jersey Goes Dark
- What Happens to Glassboro When College Students Leave?
