Upon her retirement from the Riley Institute in August 2024, Jacki Martin was named a senior distinguished fellow of the institute. Prior to her retirement, Martin helped lead the institute as deputy director from 2009-2024. She worked closely with former Executive Director Don Gordon and the Riley Institute’s center and program directors to conceive and launch the institute’s programs. During her tenure the institute grew to encompass three centers of work and substantially expanded its portfolio of programs, increasing its annual operating budget by more than 400 percent.

Martin's background is primarily in policy-centered program creation and management around community development issues, with an emphasis on large-scale, multi-partner initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina.