AMHERST — Amherst College President Biddy Martin plans to travel and work on writing projects after she steps down as the college’s leader next summer, before returning to the college to teach.

Martin has served as college president since 2011, and she said that turnover is important in her line of work. She is the 19th president to serve in the college’s history and the college’s first female president.

“I think 11 years will be the right amount of time,” Martin said in an interview Tuesday, one day after she announced that would step down from the presidency.

Her departure won’t be because of any lack of affection for the faculty, staff and students of the college, however, whom she said she loves working with.

“It’s just been a great fit,” she said. “I really love the place.”

Martin is a tenured professor in the German and the Sexuality, Women’s and Gender Studies departments at Amherst. However, she has never taught a course at Amherst College, something she looks forward to post-retirement. She has taught as a guest instructor.

“I have wanted to teach Amherst College students since I got here,” said Martin, who also is considering teaching a course on higher education.

Martin is planning a year-long sabbatical before returning to Amherst to teach. She plans to write on the importance of education and has expressed an interest in traveling.

Martin is married to Gabriele Strauch, who she’s known since 1978.

“We’ve seen each other through so many parts of our lives,” she said.

Strauch is a retired professor and higher education administrator, and Martin said that her wife loves the Pioneer Valley.

The couple plans on continuing to live in Washington, D.C. after Martin leaves the presidency, but Martin said that they also plan to get a place in the Pioneer Valley as well.

The college is establishing a search committee with representation from trustees, faculty, staff, and students to find the next president. The process will be led by Andrew J. Nussbaum, a 1985 graduate and chairman of the college’s board of trustees. Martin, who previously served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and as provost at Cornell University, is not involved with finding her successor.

“I hope that the next president will enjoy and come to love this place as much as I have,” she said.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.]]>