Kathryn A. Martin has a schedule that would exhaust most people.
The News Tribune followed the UMD chancellor for half a day Aug. 28 for a glimpse of what it's like to be one of the most powerful women in the Northland.
Martin regularly rises at 4:30 a.m. She tries to get to bed early, but the previous day stretched to 11 p.m. as she attended a concert by her nephew's reggae band at UMD. Between those long hours, she's needed for meetings, phone calls, dinners and frequent travels to raise money and explore ideas for the college.
8 a.m.: UMD hosts a faculty breakfast on campus. While eating her eggs, Martin jumps up often to shake hands, pat backs and offer greetings. She wears a blazer and slacks, small gold hoop earrings and a gold chain with a UMD pendant. She speaks at length to faculty about the past year's accomplishments in academia, fundraising and athletics, and of future challenges and projects.
9:52 a.m.: Martin makes her way through Kirby Student Center to a car waiting in Ordean Court and is driven to the new Malosky Stadium to check construction progress. She dons a hard hat and reflective vest. Planks are laid over mud for her to cross. Martin climbs four flights of stairs, barely winded.
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She poses for a photo on top of the building, the entire campus laid out before her.
"I look out, and I am very grateful," she says. "I think you'd have trouble finding another public campus of this size this beautiful."
10:41 a.m.: She holds a meeting in her office on development plans. Travel is scheduled to California to see American Indian centers and to raise money. The dinner guest list for a University of Minnesota Regents meeting in Duluth is discussed.
"Go through the list and refine it for a smaller group," she tells Maryann Soleim. "We want the most important people in Duluth who are also major donors."
11:10 a.m.: Martin climbs into her maroon Ford Explorer to reach freshmen residence halls. It's move-in day, and it's a faculty and staff tradition to assist new students.
She heads to the free food tent to break for a hot dog with mustard and relish, and an apple.
"Hot dogs reduce stress for parents and children, and it's a great way to lighten things up," she says. "Rocket Rod [Raymond, her trainer] wouldn't be happy about this hot dog."
Upon returning to work, she asks resident adviser Jared Dyrdahl how his lunch was.
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"Very good; my tax dollars at work here," he says, giving her a thumbs-up. "I'll be graduating in four years -- aren't you proud of me?"
She laughs and nods.
Noon: A Mercedes SUV blocks a curb cutaway, preventing carts from being pushed into residence halls. Within seconds, Martin asks the driver to pull up, simultaneously offering her hand in welcome.
