Ballard named VSU�s assistant to the president for Equal Opportunity Programs and Multicultural Affairs

Kimberly M. Ballard was recently named Valdosta State University's new assistant to the president for Equal Opportunity Programs and Multicultural Affairs.

Ballard will be on campus March 30, coordinating that office's efforts.

She comes to VSU from the University of Georgia in Athens where she has held the position of assistant vice president for legal affairs since July 1997, and most recently served as acting vice president for legal affairs.

Ballard has worked in UGA's Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs since 1994, and has also held the positions of legal research analyst and program specialist. Most recently, as the assistant vice president for legal affairs, she was responsible for managing the open records department and advising various departments and personnel on legal, policy and liability issues.

Her specialty is education law, and Ballard said she is excited about contributing to the educational efforts of VSU.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of the students, faculty and staff on the Valdosta State campus," Ballard said.

At VSU, Ballard will have responsibility for supervision of all equal opportunity programs, including Special Services, campus diversity issues and minority faculty and staff recruitment and development. She will also supervise Program Right Track, a special university initiative that assists secondary school students in preparing for post secondary education.

"We are very pleased that Ms. Kimberly Ballard, most recently acting vice president for legal affairs at the University of Georgia, has accepted our offer to become assistant to the president for Equal Opportunity Programs and Multicultural Affairs," said Dr. Hugh C. Bailey, VSU president. "Her excellent training and outstanding professional performance prepare her to assume an important role at Valdosta State University."

Ballard earned a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia in 1990. She received a J.D. degree from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas in 1996. She is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia. Ballard is also affiliated with the American Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.