Behind a firm exterior, McIntyre house mom caring, shoe-loving
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
Freshmen men and women fear and respect Teri Martin, house director of McIntyre Dorm. Renowned for her no-nonsense policies and matter-of-fact way of getting things done, Martin is known to her friends as a gentle and caring woman and a connoisseur of shoes.
Martin first came to Hillsdale College 10 years ago, but her experience as a house director extends quite a bit further back. For Martin, having a teenage son who played sports in high school meant kids were at her house all the time.
"I always had a group of kids - when you feed boys they stay out of trouble," Martin said.
In an official role, she worked in the Chi Omega house for two years before spending eight years chasing boys off roofs, driving girls with appendicitis to the hospital and organizing midnight grill-outs in McIntyre Dorm. Now she seems an indispensable part of the atmosphere and history of the place to girls who live there.
"We call her 'Mom Martin,'" sophomore Simcha Felder, a resident adviser in McIntyre said. "She's our mom - she's there if you get sick and she's there when you're wanting to talk to someone."
Her own friends say Martin treats dorm residents as adults, caring for them but also respecting them.
"She's very caring, she tries to give them the benefit of the doubt," Diane Watkins, executive secretary to the dean of women, said. "She treats her friends the same way. You can always count on her."
Martin's favorite part of the job? The people.
"Every year is different," she said. "They keep me on my toes."
For McIntyre residents, Martin's dog, Beanie, also plays an important role. The 4-year-old Dachshund scampers back and forth across the foyer, loping from one trash can to another, looking for treats and accepting loving pats on his way.
"He's just the light of her life - she spoils him rotten," Watkins said.
Martin disagrees.
"He's only alive 'cause he's cute," Martin says, shaking her head at him.
Martin first came to Hillsdale College 10 years ago, but her experience as a house director extends quite a bit further back. For Martin, having a teenage son who played sports in high school meant kids were at her house all the time.
"I always had a group of kids - when you feed boys they stay out of trouble," Martin said.
In an official role, she worked in the Chi Omega house for two years before spending eight years chasing boys off roofs, driving girls with appendicitis to the hospital and organizing midnight grill-outs in McIntyre Dorm. Now she seems an indispensable part of the atmosphere and history of the place to girls who live there.
"We call her 'Mom Martin,'" sophomore Simcha Felder, a resident adviser in McIntyre said. "She's our mom - she's there if you get sick and she's there when you're wanting to talk to someone."
Her own friends say Martin treats dorm residents as adults, caring for them but also respecting them.
"She's very caring, she tries to give them the benefit of the doubt," Diane Watkins, executive secretary to the dean of women, said. "She treats her friends the same way. You can always count on her."
Martin's favorite part of the job? The people.
"Every year is different," she said. "They keep me on my toes."
For McIntyre residents, Martin's dog, Beanie, also plays an important role. The 4-year-old Dachshund scampers back and forth across the foyer, loping from one trash can to another, looking for treats and accepting loving pats on his way.
"He's just the light of her life - she spoils him rotten," Watkins said.
Martin disagrees.
"He's only alive 'cause he's cute," Martin says, shaking her head at him.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Robin Johnson
posted 9/18/09 @ 9:20 AM EST
Teris Martin is my younger sister and I agree with anyone that says she can be intimidating. On a recent trip out west last year with her and Ethan her grandson, she was very intimidating. (Continued…)
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