Staff

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact the Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement at edce@kennesaw.edu.   ​

  • Tyler Reinagel

    Dr. Tyler Reinagel

    • Associate Vice President for Economic Development

    Email: treinag1@kennesaw.edu  Phone: (470) 578-3365

    • Dr. Reinagel joined Kennesaw State University in July 2021 as associate vice president for economic development. Dr. Reinagel leads KSU’s economic development and community outreach initiatives, building and strengthening relationships with the university’s governmental, corporate, and non-profit partners throughout the Metro Atlanta/Northwest Georgia regions and throughout Georgia.

      Prior to joining KSU, Dr. Reinagel served as director of planning and research with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. In this role, he worked closely with local governments, regional commissions, and community organizations across Georgia comprehensive plan review, GIS and mapping functions, fiscal reporting, and intergovernmental relations. This work included providing testimony to legislative committees, developing administrative rules for statutory programs, and coordinating with partner state offices for inter-agency programmatic requirements. In addition, he oversaw the agency’s legislative fiscal note development, update to the Uniform Chart of Accounts for Local Government in Georgia, and training programs regarding the state’s local hotel-motel excise tax. He worked closely and conducted training/professional development programming with professional organizations including the Georgia Municipal Association, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Association of Regional Commissions, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Government Finance Officers Association, and Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, among many others.

      Before serving at DCA, Dr. Reinagel served as an economist and public policy specialist with the Office of Inspector General for the USPS based in the Washington, D.C. area; assistant professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C.; and senior doctoral fellow at the Fanning Institute, a public service and outreach unit at the University of Georgia.

      Dr. Reinagel earned his B.A. from Fordham University in New York, and his M.P.A. and Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia. His research has focused on state/local budget and finance, intergovernmental relations, and local government management.

    • Kim Henghold

      Mrs. Kimberly Henghold

      • Director, Community Engagement

      Email:  khenghol@kennesaw.edu   Phone: 470-578-3068

      • Mrs. Henghold joined Kennesaw State University in 2013 from South Florida where she has nearly 20 years of experience working to increase community engagement and has done so in nonprofit, local government, and higher education settings. Prior to working with the university's community engagement initiatives, she was responsible for the oversight and management of the Volunteerism and Service-Learning Support area in Student Affairs.

        Currently, she serves as the director of community engagement in the Office of Research. Mrs. Henghold brings extensive knowledge in outreach and strategic partnerships, volunteer management, recruitment and retention, event planning and implementation and project management.  She has been an active volunteer most of her life and her career has been dedicated to supporting partnerships and engagement that assists the community by addressing societal needs while promoting positive, and lasting change. 

        She provides leadership and support to the Economic Development and Community Engagement office and is responsible for the community engagement initiatives designed to strengthen the university-community relationships through research, education, and public service. In addition to overseeing the office, she helps to coordinate programs and events, special initiatives, and projects for the Office. Mrs. Henghold served on the writing team for the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement and was selected for the President's Task Force on Community Engagement. 

      • Joe Risby

        Mr. Joe Risby

        • Program Manager

        Email: jrisby@kennesaw.edu

        • Mr. Risby first joined Kennesaw State University, the Owl Nation, in August 2015 as a graduate student within the School of Conflict Management. As a student, Joe earned his M.S. in conflict management along with certificates in general mediation and justice and organizations. Channeling his entrepreneurial spirit, he started his own practice, Harmony and Success, which specializes in organizational development and mediation. He has conducted over 100 mediation/dispute resolution services and facilitated training for managers and organizations to work successfully together to overcome environmental challenges.

          As the program manager for Economic Development and Community Engagement, Mr. Risby will be at the helm of Incubator Services, a partnership between Cobb Chamber of Commerce and KSU designed to provide a home and resources for Cobb County start-ups to launch and grow.

          Prior to this position, Mr. Risby served as the program coordinator for the School of Conflict Management. He took on the role because he wanted to help make students' dreams come true just as the program had done for him. In his role, Mr. Risby worked closely with faculty, staff, students and the community and conducted professional development training for the Center of Conflict Management. During this time, Risby developed a partnership with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society to provide services for an underserved community. His commitment to the community is only enhanced by his natural ability to create memorable events to bring the community together. Outside of planning the hooding ceremonies for the School of Conflict Management, where he orchestrated the opportunity for close friends and family to hood their graduates, he partnered with small businesses and upcoming artists to showcase their talents and services in a local event to promote mental health awareness.

          Mr. Risby looking forward to assisting and working with entrepreneurs to actualize their dreams.

         

        • Clay Long

          Mr. Clay Long 

          • Program Coordinator 

          Email: clong112@kennesaw.edu 

          • Mr. Long joined Kennesaw State University in April 2022 as a Program Coordinator in the Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement. Prior to joining KSU, Long served as a Community Relations Assistant with the Atlanta Falcons. During his time with the Atlanta Falcons, Long assisted in planning and implementing numerous community events throughout the state of Georgia, Alabama and Montana. Mr. Long previously worked as a Student-Athlete Engagement Assistant with North Carolina State University Athletics. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing community service opportunities and planning multiple career development events for student-athletes. 

            A native of North Carolina, Mr. Long obtained his B.S. in Sports Management from North Carolina State University. His experiences in both higher education and professional sports have prepared him for his role as Program Coordinator and provide a unique perspective to the position. Mr. Long is excited to return to higher education and use his skills to engage with the KSU community.

           

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