Dra. V. J. Martinez
About Dra. V. J. Martinez
Dra. V. J. Martinez is the Director of Equity, Strategy, and Impact at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she focuses on reproductive justice and racial health equity. She has a diverse background in education and program coordination, having held various roles at institutions such as Syracuse University, Columbia University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Current Role at Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Dra. V. J. Martinez serves as the Director of Equity, Strategy, and Impact at Planned Parenthood Federation of America since 2023. In this role, she identifies systemic barriers to racial health equity and proposes solutions within the organization. She leads initiatives that focus on reproductive justice and racial health equity, ensuring that the organization addresses the needs of marginalized communities.
Previous Experience in Higher Education
Dra. V. J. Martinez has extensive experience in higher education. She worked at Syracuse University as the Coordinator of Mentoring Programs from 2012 to 2013 and later served as the Associate Director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, she was the Program Coordinator at Wilkes University from 2005 to 2009. Her roles involved developing programs that supported diverse student populations.
Teaching and Instructional Roles
Dra. V. J. Martinez has held instructional roles, including her position as an Instructor at eCornell from 2020 to 2022. In this capacity, she facilitated courses that focused on various aspects of equity and inclusion. Her teaching experience complements her work in developing and facilitating curriculum and training related to reproductive justice and racial health equity.
Educational Background
Dra. V. J. Martinez holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt University, which she completed from 2018 to 2022. She also earned a Master of Science in Education with a focus on Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University between 2010 and 2012. Additionally, she achieved a Dual Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Rhetoric and Political Science from Wilkes University from 2005 to 2009.
Leadership in Health Equity Initiatives
In her current role, Dra. V. J. Martinez leads the human resources and diversity strategy for the Black Health Equity Initiative. This initiative addresses health inequities faced by Black women, femmes, girls, and Trans individuals. She advises on strategic best practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of reproductive justice in her work.