Dr. Kina Mallard Appointed as Executive Director of NAAMSCU

The North American Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAAMSCU) and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kina Mallard as the executive director of NAAMSCU, effective November 1, 2022.

Dr. Mallard is the founder and president of Leading Higher Ed, a leadership development company focusing on developing strong leaders who lead strong institutions. Mallard’s experience allows her to view leadership through many different lenses. As a dynamic speaker, engaging workshop facilitator, skilled executive coach and consultant, Dr. Mallard has developed and led national workshops on various aspects of leadership, launched faculty, leadership, and women’s leadership development programs, and has coached leaders at all levels. Her leadership career has spanned over 30 years at five institutions, most recently serving as President of Reinhardt University, a Methodist-affiliated university in Georgia.

Mallard is a certified facilitator in DISC, leadership effectiveness 360, and motivators and values, as well as an experienced workshop facilitator in building effective teams and emotional intelligence. She coaches presidents, CEOs, and vice presidents leveraging their strengths to create effective and dynamic leadership, and engaged, future-focused teams. 

Recently, Mallard collaborated with GBHEM and NAAMSCU as a higher education consultant and workshop facilitator. She and Tamara Gieselman, assistant vice president for education and innovation at GBHEM, co-authored “The Awakened Traveler” and “The Awakened Life 2.0.” “Dr. Kina Mallard will bring energy and expertise to the NAAMSCU association, and I am excited to work with her as we seek to strengthen the relationship between church and academy,” said Gieselman.

Dr. Kina Mallard earned a Bachelor of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. Kina is energized by serving on various boards and traveling internationally. Together, she and her husband, Steve Dietz, have five children and eight grandchildren and serve their two dogs, Bentley and Barney. They are members of Ooltewah Methodist Church in Ooltewah, TN.

To learn more about NAAMSCU visit gbhem.org/education-leaders/nascumc/.