Mary Hinton (academic) facts for kids

Mary Dana Hinton is an American educator and leader. She has worked as the president of two different universities. From 2014 to 2020, she was the president of the College of Saint Benedict. In August 2020, she became the president of Hollins University. She is the first African-American president in Hollins University's history. Before becoming a president, she held important leadership roles at other colleges.

Mary Dana Hinton's Early Life and Schooling

Mary Dana Hinton was born in Kittrell, North Carolina. Her family worked hard to make a living. When she was young, a school counselor suggested she join the military instead of going to college. This was because of her race.

But with help from a family her mother worked for, Mary went to Saint Mary's School. This was a special boarding school for girls in Raleigh, North Carolina. After finishing high school in 1988, she studied psychology at Williams College. She even won a special medal there. Later, she earned a master's degree from the University of Kansas. She also got a doctoral degree in religion from Fordham University.

Her Career in Education

Mary Dana Hinton started her career as an elementary school teacher in Maryland. After her graduate studies, she helped open many new schools in New York and Baltimore.

Leading Colleges

She then moved into leadership roles at different Catholic colleges. She worked as a vice president at Misericordia College. There, she also helped with diversity efforts. After Misericordia, she became a vice president at Mount Saint Mary College.

In 2014, Mary Dana Hinton became the president of the College of Saint Benedict. She was the fifteenth president of this college. During her time there, she helped with many building projects. She also secured a large grant to help with training about inclusion and diversity. This training helps people understand and respect different backgrounds.

Becoming a University President

In June 2020, she left the College of Saint Benedict. She then became the president of Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She officially started this new role in August 2020. She is the thirteenth president of Hollins.

Mary Dana Hinton is also a member of several important boards. These include the board of directors for Saint Mary's School. She also serves on boards for groups that support colleges and universities. She used to lead the board for private colleges in Minnesota.

She has written a book called The Commercial Church. She also gave a TEDx Talk called Leading from the Margins.

Her Family Life

Mary Dana Hinton is married to Robert Williams. They have three children together.