Knoxville/Fountain City Native Officially Takes the Helm of Georgia University

Dr. Kina Mallard 1 05022016

Dr. Kina Mallard
Reinhardt University

Knoxville/Fountain City, Tennessee native, Dr. Kina S. Mallard, was inaugurated this month as Reinhardt University’s president.

The daylong events on April 15 included a prayer service, the inauguration ceremony, and an evening gala.

The inauguration ceremony, held at Reinhardt’s Falany Performing Arts Center, was the official installation of Mallard who became President of Reinhardt University on May 15, 2015.

“Thank you to the selection committee who, last February, chose me for Reinhardt. It is hard to believe it has been over a year since I started thinking, dreaming and planning for this university,” Mallard said. “While I have the honor of standing before you, this inauguration is not really about me. This inauguration is a celebration of Reinhardt University and the many dedicated servant-leaders whose courage, innovation and sheer will has brought us to this day.”

Mallard recognized her mother, Ann Steed, a lifelong resident of Knoxville’s Fountain City community, and many others in attendance from Knoxville and East Tennessee. Mallard, a 1977 graduate of Central High School, Knoxville, is a member of the CHS Wall of Fame.

William G. Hasty Jr. (’67), Chair of the Reinhardt University Board of Trustees, introduced Dr. Mallard as the 20th President of Reinhardt, and the Rev. Timothy Emmett, pastor of Waleska United Methodist, located on campus, led the Investiture of the President. Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood, who held the university presidency for 13 years prior to Mallard, presented her with the presidential medallion.

Mallard addressed those in attendance about the work she and her team have done over the last year and the plans laid out for the future, including the creation of a Center for Effective and Innovative Teaching and Learning which, according to Mallard, “will bring experts to campus to facilitate robust, innovative, high-impact conversations and professional development of our faculty.”

“Reinhardt’s future depends solely on how well we do our work in the present,” Mallard said. “Who Reinhardt will be in the next 10, 20, and 30 years is being determined by the vision-casting, strategic planning, personnel-hiring, decision-making, fundraising, curriculum-development, and campus and facilities planning we are doing right now.”

Mallard came to Reinhardt University from Carson-Newman University where she served as executive vice president and provost. She holds a Doctorate in communication and a Master of Arts in organizational communication from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Bachelor of Science in speech and theatre from Middle Tennessee State University. She and her husband, Steve Dietz, have five children and one grandchild.

Reinhardt University

Reinhardt University

Source: Reinhardt University