Dr. Joe Mullins ’02
By Jordan Beach
Confident in his ability to explain the realities of the athletic and business fields, Dr. Joe Mullins ‘02 utilizes his background in coaching, business and administration to his advantage. And, reports Mullins, he involves his students wherever he can while growing as a sport professional himself.
“I feel that my continued professional development is very important for my students. For example, when I teach students about running a large athletic event, I involve them in helping me run a large athletic event each January,” said Mullins.
Mullins began his education at Reinhardt, earning a Bachelor of Science in sport studies in 2002, and went on to earn a Master of Science in sport and leisure studies at the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in sport leadership at Concordia University in Chicago. This will be Mullins’ seventh year teaching at Reinhardt University.
“My favorite part of teaching at Reinhardt is developing relationships with my students and seeing them grow throughout their four years in the sport studies program,” Mullins said.
According to Mullins, the program engages students in the scholarly side of sports in a classroom environment by applying theoretical knowledge, a challenge that serves to prepare them for “the rigors of the sport workplace.”
“In addition, the sport studies program offers students the opportunity to gain practical on-the-job experience through our practicum and internship experiences,” he said.
Mullins hopes his students walk away from his classes feeling as if they have been provided with opportunities to apply the knowledge they learned to projects outside the classroom.
“I simply want my students to feel like they are prepared for the next steps in their future,” he said.
When he is not on campus with college students, Mullins is actively involved as a volunteer coach for youth football and high school and youth wrestling.
