By Ricci Taylor, contributing writer
As a professor in Augusta State University’s Department of Political Science and an asset to both ASU and the community, Saundra Reinke has much to be proud of.
The Master of Public Administration Program, which Dr. Reinke also directs, has acquired a positive reputation. The program was approved by the National Association of Schools of Public Administration, which is the most outstanding accreditation that a MPA program can receive.
Dr. Reinke is not only the director of the MPA program and a professor of political science, she also is the interim director of ASU’s Center for Immigration Studies. The focus of Dr. Reinke’s research within the center is to identify the community’s programs and policies that help immigrants adjust to life in the United States.
As a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel, Dr. Reinke was influential in having the university join the Servicemembers Opportunity College, which allows ASU to be in attendance at Fort Gordon. She also chairs the Fort Gordon liaison committee, which works to advance relationships between Fort Gordon and the university.
Dr. Reinke is committed to the university, the local community, and academic research. In 2008, she was presented the Women of Excellence Award, an award given by the Girl Scouts to acknowledge female community leaders. She also received the Outstanding Article Award for her article in Public Integrity in 2006. A mentor, Dr. Reinke has seen 32 of her students’ work published and presented at regional conferences. She says teaching is what she enjoys above everything about ASU. “There’s no question about it. I love doing research with students. I’m very passionate about teaching,” she says.
The Missouri native has traveled the world and says home is wherever she has parked. “Right now, I’m parked in Augusta,” says Dr. Reinke.
Along with teaching, she serves as a deacon at the Church of Our Savior and, for the last seven years, has served on the state board for ministry. Dr. Reinke’s spiritual beliefs provide her with a specific scripture that she lives by: “Show me your faith without works, and by my works will show you my faith.”
Name: Dr. Saundra Reinke
How long with ASU: 11 years
Hobbies: Church, teaching, research
Family: two children, three stepchildren, three grandchildren, and another grandchild on the way
Nov 2, 2009
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