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Pace, Reinhardt Bring Frontline Experience to Nursing Program at Valdosta State University

As thousands of nurses serve on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19, the educating of nurses is even more critical than before.

Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting is pleased to announce the appointments of James Pace, PhD, and Mark Reinhardt, DNP, to lead the nursing program at Valdosta State University in Georgia. Both men bring extensive experience as practitioners, educators, and program administrators to their leadership roles in preparing nursing students to meet the challenging healthcare needs with skills and knowledge.

At the comprehensive university in South Georgia, Dr. Pace, MDiv, APRN, FAANP, FAAN, serves as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr. Reinhardt, FNP-BC, CNS, CEN, as Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and Professor, is responsible for leading the rigorous and growing nursing program. Both men also bring exceptional experiences at the frontlines of nursing in dire situations.

“Nurses are with patients and families throughout life's continuum and are the heart and soul of the healthcare system,” said Dr. Pace. “I feel very fortunate to have been named Dean of Valdosta State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) where we educate future nurses and health care professionals.” 

Dr. Pace’s teaching experience spans four decades. Before joining VSU, he served as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Clinical Professor of Nursing. He was responsible for the quality of the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs.

He also has served patients facing life-threatening illnesses. Prior to being recruited to NYU in 2011, Dr. Pace served six years at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where he was the Director of the Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner program. During his tenure, he held various nurse faculty practice appointments and was a nurse practitioner at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, an evening chaplain at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the Director of Bereavement Services at a community-based hospice.

Over his career, Dr. Pace also served as the Specialty Director of the Oncology/Immunology Adult Nurse Practitioner Program at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Georgia. He also taught at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he earned his PhD in Nursing Science and Research.

“The VSU CONHS faculty is superb,” he added. “I am so happy to welcome Dr. Reinhardt to the Associate Dean role in the School of Nursing. I think we make a great team!”

Dr. Reinhardt has extensive experience in emergency medicine as well as nursing education. At the time of his appointment at VSU, he was Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. He had oversight of the MSN-CNL and BSN programs.

He began his over 20-year nursing career in the United States Army, retiring in 2011 at the rank of Major. During his military career, he received the Bronze Star Medal for leadership during a deployment to Iraq and awards for his leadership in establishing the only trauma unit in New Orleans in the days following Hurricane Katrina. He also was selected as the first nurse Company Commander at Tripler Army Medical Center with more than 550 soldiers under his command. As an Associate Chief Nursing Officer, he was responsible for 13 clinical areas and had supervision of over 250 civilian and military personnel.

When he returned to civilian life, he began his career in academic nursing in higher education. He has taught and held leadership roles at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro; the University of Texas Medical Branch, School of Nursing, Galveston; and the University of Texas, Health Science Center, School of Nursing, Houston. He also taught at the School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., where he earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

As a nurse who has worked in traumatic situations, Dr. Reinhardt knows the importance of preparing students to serve in a crisis. “Nurses are the best example of the human spirit that epitomizes selfless service and sacrifice,” said Dr. Reinhardt. “I am very humbled to be part of this wonderful institution and the School of Nursing.”