Carolyn “Biddy” Martin is the newly appointed president of Amherst College. Martin had served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison from September, 2008, until July, 2011. Prior to joining the UW–Madison, Martin was Cornell University provost, responsible for overseeing academic programs. She received her Ph.D. in German literature from UW–Madison in 1985. That same year, Martin went to Cornell University, where she remained until 2008. At Cornell, she served as a member of the Departments of German Studies and Women's Studies, chair of the Department of German Studies, senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and provost of the university. Biddy Martin is a distinguished scholar of German studies and author of numerous articles and two books.