Alma College’s longest serving trustee is also one of the College’s greatest benefactors.
Grand Haven resident F. Martin Johnson, known as “Mart” to his friends and colleagues, has served on the Alma College Board of Trustees since 1975.
He also chairs the Open Windows Campaign Cabinet, a group of volunteers providing leadership for the College’s largest fund-raising effort.
He and his wife, Dottie, have provided consistent financial support for the College throughout the years — an act he describes as an obligation as part of his role as a member of the board.
Some people can’t give at the same level of others, but there’s a real obligation for trustees to financially support the institution they serve.
Johnson, retired chairman of the board and former CEO and president for JSJ Corporation, did not attend Alma. He majored in engineering at Stanford University and has a master’s degree from the Harvard Business School. Despite not attending Alma, he feels a special link to the Presbyterian-affiliated College. He grew up in a Presbyterian family. His sister, Esther Johnson Frandsen, attended Alma, and his mother and father always were supportive of the College.
I was always interested in education. I considered the opportunity to be involved in college governance at Alma as a big honor.
Last summer, Johnson was asked to participate in and provide the narration for the College’s campaign video. Shooting took place on a warm summer day on the Alma campus. It was his first “acting” experience since high school.
I was in a play at Grand Haven High School, though it was not a major role. My teacher came up to me after the performance and said, ‘Man, you look like a stick on stage.’ That ended my career right there.
Johnson serves as a spokesman for the Alma campaign because he believes in the need to increase the College’s endowment.
Dottie and I support the Center for Responsible Leadership — that’s where we have designated our gifts. But I can think of 25 other things that alumni can support. We need to have resources to improve facilities and provide enhanced educational opportunities for students.
Johnson tells alumni that giving back to their alma mater demonstrates how they value their college experience and what other people have done for them.
If you go to Alma, you come out with the recognition that you want to make Alma the best institution it can be.
The $35.25 million Open Windows Campaign focuses on strengthening student opportunities that build on and enhance classroom learning.
