Metro State President Stephen Jordan has announced the appointment of Loretta P. Martinez as general counsel for the College. She will start Jan. 11, 2010, pending approval by Metro State’s Board of Trustees.

In making the announcement, Jordan said, "I am very excited to have someone with Ms. Martinez’s extensive higher education background and expertise in this critical leadership position.”

No stranger to higher education in Colorado, Martinez has previously served as general counsel for the Colorado State University System, and before that as legal counsel and general secretary, as well as acting director of human resources for Colorado College.

 At Metro State, Martinez will serve as the chief legal advisor to the president and Board of Trustees, providing legal advice and counsel on all matters affecting the legal rights or obligations of the College. Martinez will report directly to Jordan and will be a member of his senior leadership team.

In accepting the position, Martinez said, “I am delighted to be joining Metro State. I was attracted to Metro State because of its challenging mission, its visionary leadership, its progressive initiatives and its terrific location in the heart of downtown Denver. I look forward to being a part of the leadership team that will work hard every day to ensure that Metro State is not only the biggest, but also the best baccalaureate college in Colorado.”

Martinez began her legal career as a litigator, clerking for the United States District Court of Colorado and working as a litigator in private practice specializing in employment law, products liability and commercial litigation.

Martinez received her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1991, and her B.A. in political science from Yale University in 1988. She has particular expertise counseling complex entities on board governance, regulatory compliance at the local, state and federal levels, labor and employment matters, training and litigation.