Hon. Mark Martin
Founding Dean and Professor of Law
- University Department Law
- Location Roberts Hall
- Phone Number 336-841-4552
- Email mmartin4@highpoint.edu
Martin’s successful career includes previously serving as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, as an Associate Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and most recently as dean and professor of law at Regent University School of Law.
Dean Mark Martin is a respected voice in both judicial and academic circles, an accomplished attorney, jurist and professor, as well as an advocate for access to justice, legal reform, and innovation in legal education.
During his 26-year judicial career, Martin served at every level of the court system and ultimately as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 2014- 2019. He advocated for judicial reform by expanding juvenile court jurisdiction through a program called "Raise the Age." In addition, he established a pro bono resource center in North Carolina to improve access to justice. The Chief Justice of the United States appointed Martin to the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction of the United States Judicial Conference. Martin also served on the board of directors of the Conference of Chief Justices, an influential organization with a direct influence on the development of codes of ethics and legal best practices nationwide.
Dean Martin previously served as chair of the ABA Judicial Division, ABA Appellate Judges Conference, and Appellate Judges Education Institute Board of Directors. He chaired the Commission on Professionalism and Equal Access to Justice Commission. He is also a member of the American Law Institute, where he assisted with the Third Restatement, Conflict of Laws, and served on the Region 15 Advisory Committee. He also chaired the Commission on the Future of the North Carolina Business Court.
Dean Martin is currently a member of the Judicial Advisory Committee for the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and an emeritus member of the Standing Committee on Election Law. He also chairs the Thomson Reuters Judicial Advisory Council. At the state level, he serves as a member of the Judicial Independence Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Dean Martin's advocacy for the rule of law has extended beyond the United States. He served on the Commission for the World Justice Project and was a two-time delegate to the World Justice Forum, the first-ever global convening to promote the multidisciplinary importance of the rule of law. The Queen's Bench, Commercial Division in London appointed Dean Martin as an expert witness in 2021.
During his service on the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Martin served on the adjunct faculties at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and University of North Carolina law schools. He also served as a founding board member of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School.
Dean Martin's lifetime of public service and devotion to the rule of law has been recognized by many organizations. In 2011 Martin was inducted into the Warren Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts. He is a recipient of the Patriotic Employer Award of the United States Department of Defense. Martin has received the ABA Robert Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution in Judicial Administration, the Liberty Bell Award of the North Carolina Bar Association, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (which is the highest award given to a civilian in North Carolina). He is an honorary member of the American Counsel Association.
Dean Martin has been married to Kym L. Martin for 29 years, and together they have raised five children.
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Dean Mark Martin is a respected voice in both judicial and academic circles, an accomplished attorney, jurist and professor, as well as an advocate for access to justice, legal reform, and innovation in legal education.
During his 26-year judicial career, Martin served at every level of the court system and ultimately as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 2014- 2019. He advocated for judicial reform by expanding juvenile court jurisdiction through a program called "Raise the Age." In addition, he established a pro bono resource center in North Carolina to improve access to justice. The Chief Justice of the United States appointed Martin to the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction of the United States Judicial Conference. Martin also served on the board of directors of the Conference of Chief Justices, an influential organization with a direct influence on the development of codes of ethics and legal best practices nationwide.
Dean Martin previously served as chair of the ABA Judicial Division, ABA Appellate Judges Conference, and Appellate Judges Education Institute Board of Directors. He chaired the Commission on Professionalism and Equal Access to Justice Commission. He is also a member of the American Law Institute, where he assisted with the Third Restatement, Conflict of Laws, and served on the Region 15 Advisory Committee. He also chaired the Commission on the Future of the North Carolina Business Court.
Dean Martin is currently a member of the Judicial Advisory Committee for the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and an emeritus member of the Standing Committee on Election Law. He also chairs the Thomson Reuters Judicial Advisory Council. At the state level, he serves as a member of the Judicial Independence Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Dean Martin's advocacy for the rule of law has extended beyond the United States. He served on the Commission for the World Justice Project and was a two-time delegate to the World Justice Forum, the first-ever global convening to promote the multidisciplinary importance of the rule of law. The Queen's Bench, Commercial Division in London appointed Dean Martin as an expert witness in 2021.
During his service on the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Martin served on the adjunct faculties at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and University of North Carolina law schools. He also served as a founding board member of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School.
Dean Martin's lifetime of public service and devotion to the rule of law has been recognized by many organizations. In 2011 Martin was inducted into the Warren Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts. He is a recipient of the Patriotic Employer Award of the United States Department of Defense. Martin has received the ABA Robert Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution in Judicial Administration, the Liberty Bell Award of the North Carolina Bar Association, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (which is the highest award given to a civilian in North Carolina). He is an honorary member of the American Counsel Association.
Dean Martin has been married to Kym L. Martin for 29 years, and together they have raised five children.
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Natt Gantt
Professor of Law; Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
- University Department Law
- Location Roberts Hall
- Phone Number 336-841-2646
- Email ngantt@highpoint.edu
Gantt comes to HPU from Harvard Law School and brings 22 years of experience in legal education. Through his teaching, presentations and scholarship, he has focused primarily on law school academic support, legal education reform, legal ethics and professional identity formation. Gantt is recognized as a national leader on law student and lawyer well-being, and how legal education should foster integrity as an important personal and professional value. With extensive experience in both law and theology, Gantt most recently was the inaugural executive director of the Harvard Law School Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies and a lecturer on law.
Prior to his role at Harvard, Gantt served for 21 years in various roles at Regent University School of Law, most recently as a professor, associate dean for academic affairs and co-director of Regent’s Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform.
Gantt earned his Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School, his Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and political science at Duke University. In his role as executive director of Harvard’s Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies, Gantt encouraged discussions on the relationship between faith and the study and practice of law, and on the character formation of law students and lawyers.
Gantt currently serves as an advisory member of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) and chairs CoLAP’s Well-Being Committee. He also serves as a faculty presenter at the Christian Legal Society Fellows Program and as a visiting fellow of the Mockler Center for Faith and Ethics in the Public Square at Gordon-Conwell.
Prior to his role at Harvard, Gantt served for 21 years in various roles at Regent University School of Law, most recently as a professor, associate dean for academic affairs and co-director of Regent’s Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform.
Gantt earned his Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School, his Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and political science at Duke University. In his role as executive director of Harvard’s Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies, Gantt encouraged discussions on the relationship between faith and the study and practice of law, and on the character formation of law students and lawyers.
Gantt currently serves as an advisory member of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) and chairs CoLAP’s Well-Being Committee. He also serves as a faculty presenter at the Christian Legal Society Fellows Program and as a visiting fellow of the Mockler Center for Faith and Ethics in the Public Square at Gordon-Conwell.
Patricia Ford
Office Administrator, School of Law
- University Department Law
- Location Roberts Hall
- Phone Number 336-841-2647
- Email pford@highpoint.edu
Attorney Patricia Ford serves the HPU School of Law as its office administrator. In this role, she assists Martin and Gantt in promoting external relations and in developing law school initiatives and educational programming.
Ford practiced law for 30 years in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before joining HPU to help develop the law school. After earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing at North Carolina A&T State University, Ford found she enjoyed working with people of various backgrounds and decided she could do greater good by earning her Juris Doctor degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law. She began her private practice law career in 1992. She continued practicing law until accepting the call to join the HPU Law School staff.
Ford is a member of the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, 31st Judicial and Forsyth Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association and enjoys arts in the community.
Ford practiced law for 30 years in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before joining HPU to help develop the law school. After earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing at North Carolina A&T State University, Ford found she enjoyed working with people of various backgrounds and decided she could do greater good by earning her Juris Doctor degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law. She began her private practice law career in 1992. She continued practicing law until accepting the call to join the HPU Law School staff.
Ford is a member of the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, 31st Judicial and Forsyth Bar Associations. She is also a member of the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association and enjoys arts in the community.