Martin C. Jischke was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 7, 1941. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and received a B.S. (1963) in physics. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he received an M.S. (1964) and a Ph.D. (1968) in aeronautics and astronautics. He is trained as a fluid dynamicist and has expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and problems related to high-speed aircraft and spacecraft.



Jischke first worked at the University of Oklahoma (OU) as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Nuclear Engineering (1968-1975). He briefly served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (1975-1976). Then he returned to OU as the Director and Professor of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Nuclear Engineering (1977-1981). Jischke became the Dean of the College of Engineering at OU (1981-1986) and served as interim President of the University (1985).



Jischke was named Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Rolla (1986-1991) before becoming President at Iowa State University (1991-2000). At Iowa State, he was known for unprecedented fundraising abilities. "Campaign Destiny: to Become the Best" exceeded expectations and raised $458.6 million for Iowa State in the five year period ending June 2000. It was the largest fundraising effort in Iowa State's history to that point. After leaving Iowa State, he was President of Purdue University in Indiana until his retirement (2000-2007).



Jischke served on the Board of Directors for many groups, including the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, ISU Foundation, Bankers Trust, and Kerr-McGee. He also held memberships in a number of professional, scientific, and civic groups including the American Society for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Rotary International, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi, among others. He was a member of honorary societies such as Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Tau Sigma, and Sigma Gamma Tau. A list of memberships can be found in the biographical file at the beginning of this collection (folder 1/1).



He married Patricia (Fowler) Jischke (1970). Their children are Charles and Marian.