Mark R. Martell

Dr. Mark R. Martell serves as Director of the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and is Co-Principal Investigator for the AANAPISI Initiative. A higher education professional since 2000, his UIC career includes roles in Campus Housing, Student Employment, and Career Services. He actively contributes to campus governance as former Co-Chair of the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Asian Americans and AARCC Advisory Board member.

Research Focus

Martell's work examines racialized experiences of Asian American students in higher education, cultural mythology, and pop culture representations. His interdisciplinary approach spans:

• Educational equity and student success
• Asian American identity in media
• Sociocultural impacts on academic pathways
• Community-engaged scholarship

Educational Background

• PhD in Educational Policy Studies (UIC, 2016)
• MA in Linguistics (Florida International University, 2000)
• BA in English (Florida International University, 1998)

Leadership & Grants

As AANAPISI Co-PI, he administers grant programs supporting Native American/Pacific Islander students and teaches related courses. Additional community engagement includes Chicago-based Asian American, LGBTQ+, and theater organizations.

Teaching Portfolio

Part-time instruction across institutions:

• UIC Honors College: Asian Americans in Pop Culture, Superheroes and Cultural Mythology, Comics & Society
• Harold Washington College
• UIC College of Education & Asian American Studies

Personal: 1.5-generation Filipino American (he/him pronouns) from Miami.