Written by: Kat Zelidon
Marty Hamilton, senior vice president of financial administration at Southern Adventist University, has announced his plans to retire in March 2025 after nearly 20 years in the department.
Since 2005, Hamilton has worked on countless building projects and renovations, and directed Architectural Services, Campus Safety, Transportation, Landscape Services and Plant Services.
Hamilton began working at Southern in 1998, initially serving as director of property and industry. Seven years later, he transitioned to associate vice president of Financial Administration.
In an interview with the Accent, Hamilton expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
“The Lord’s really blessed me and given me wisdom on how to handle some of the circumstances that I’ve dealt with here,” he said. “So I feel really blessed. Even though I didn’t attend Southern Adventist University, I feel a strong kinship to what we do here. And I want to see it continue.”
Under his guidance, Southern completed building projects such as the Bietz Center for Student Life, Mountain Cottages and Southern Village. His teams also led structural renovations, including a complete change of the interior in Summerour Hall and Wright Hall and the addition of a second-floor extension in McKee Library.
Bob Young, senior vice president of Academic Administration, works with Hamilton weekly and noted his extensive work on Southern’s campus.
“I’d say almost every building on campus has been touched in some significant way by the team of people that he leads,” Young said. “Marty wants to make sure that the things he oversees are meeting the needs of the campus. He cares deeply about his work, the people he leads and the students and staff who live and work here.”
Interior designer Becky Djernes, who also worked closely with Hamilton, shared her admiration for his vision and dedication.
“Marty has had Southern’s best interest at heart for over 27 years,” Djernes said. “I do not think anybody in the history of Southern has so affected the face of this campus as Marty Hamilton.”
She recalled how Hamilton challenged his team to connect with students despite the nature of their roles.
“Marty loves interacting with students and has encouraged his team to think differently, to say ‘hi’ on the promenade and to engage wherever possible,” Djernes said. “His work touches everything—from resurfacing parking lots to landscaping to ensuring the garbage gets picked up. His hands have been in every part of the campus for the past two decades.”
Hamilton’s impact extended beyond infrastructure to personal connections with students, such as Chehalis Eno, a senior English major and a member of Southern’s Blacksmithing Club. Eno shared in an email interview with the Accent that Hamilton had been instrumental in helping the club when they had difficulties with their meeting location.
“Marty has always been very open to working with me and the club to ensure that we have a place to forge and store our equipment,” Eno said. “Without his help, our shop may well have been demolished without a plan in place for a new home, which would have been an incredibly difficult situation to rebuild from.”
As he prepares for retirement, Hamilton acknowledged the bittersweet nature of leaving his role.
“The hardest part will be leaving my office and team,” he said. “This has been my home, so there’s sadness involved in having to walk away. There’s excitement about new adventures I’m planning with my family, but it’s also just a sadness of not seeing the people I work with here on campus. I’m trying to emotionally get prepared for that departure.”
Djernes said Hamilton’s legacy at Southern will undoubtedly endure in the buildings he helped construct, the teams he inspired and the faith-driven spirit of humility and leadership he brought to every endeavor.
“Marty is an inspiration,” she said. “His vision and dedication have made Southern an inviting and beautiful place for students and staff alike.”
When asked what he thinks his legacy will be, Hamilton hopes it will be how he and his team have improved the lives of students.
“Every time I visit this campus, I have some very tangible structures that show what my team and I have done for the betterment of this campus,” Hamilton said. “That brings me great joy and peace, and I see that as being successful. I’m at peace with the fact that for 27 years, I’ve been able to impact the life of this campus.”
