Dr. Loretta Reynolds has been appointed as Dean of the Chapel at Berea College.
Reverend Reynolds’ experience in the work and mission of Berea College began in 1998. Since then, she has served as Title IX coordinator, a member of the Residence Life Team, a professor in General Studies and, most recently, as senior College chaplain and interim director of the Campus Christian Center. Reynolds is trained in first responder emergency pastoral care and in brief pastoral counseling, and she is also a Berea College Green Dot trainer.
“Reynolds has become a spiritual leader and a key pillar of our community in her 20 years of service at Berea College,” said Berea College President Lyle Roelofs. “Under her leadership, the Student Chaplain program has made great strides in serving students and our community. Loretta, as we all know her, is widely appreciated for all she has done in emergency response and pastoral care in our community.”
Reynolds has earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi; a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Theological Seminary; a Master of Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia. Her professional experience includes work with youth and young adults in Zambia, the British Virgin Islands, California and Botswana. She has worked as a hospital chaplain in Louisville; a case worker at various shelters in Louisville; as pastor; administrator for various international programs in Switzerland; professor of homiletics in Australia; homiletics supervisor at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary; and Dean of Whitley College, Melbourne, Australia. Reynolds has been a member of the Homiletics Academy and has served as executive officer, vice-president and president of the National Association of College and University Chaplains.
After the tragic vehicle accidents last fall that killed three Berea College students and injured one other, Reynolds was a key member of the team that worked so hard to uphold the community and to support the families in their grievous loss.