Texas A&M University-Kingsville began the semester with new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lou Reinisch, who plans to focus on the entire student experience on campus.
Reinisch joined Javelina Nation in early August bringing with him experience in distance learning and hybrid teaching.
“Since his arrival, he has really hit the ground running, and I very much appreciate that particularly with being very responsive to students’ issues and concerns. In the last course of the week or two, he has been responsive in helping work with those issues. He very much understands the need for quick resolutions, clear communication, and just having a really good foundation in making sure we are providing the best experience that we can,” Dean of Students Kirsten Compary said.
Reinisch comes to Kingsville from the New York Institute of Technology at which he served as Associate Provost. Reinisch is a physicist with his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. He is a published and extensive researcher of free-electron lasers in medicine.
“Universities continue to navigate uncharted waters in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Dr. Reinisch will be a valuable asset in moving forward strategically. I am confident he will help to develop a strategic plan and vision for Texas A&M University-Kingsville that will ensure this University continues to transform the lives of students, while impacting our region and beyond,” President Dr. Mark Hussey said in the provost hiring announcement on July 13.
Reinisch aspires to improve graduation rates and provide an education in which all students feel comfortable. He is focusing on improving retention rates and creating long-lasting college experiences.
“ My personal goal is to improve four-year graduation rates to 50 percent and longer-term graduation rates to 80 percent at Texas A&M Kingsville I want every student who walks into this University to fully expect that they will not leave until they are ready to graduate with a degree,” Provost Reinisch said. “There is a lot that goes into that goal…this includes better retention rates, more success with remedial work, better student experiences, more high-impact learning experiences, etc. I recognize that this means we work on every aspect of the ‘student experience’ and make it better.”
