Kirk—a Concordia alumna who has worked for the university since 1993—will become the first woman to lead the private, Austin Lutheran college as president in its nearly 100-year history, according to university information.
Her appointment follows a nationwide search to replace current President and CEO Donald Christian, who announced his retirement in March following almost 20 years of service to Concordia.
The big picture
Kirk has served as Concordia’s provost and executive vice president since 2015. During her time in this role, Kirk helped reduce tuition for undergraduate students by nearly 40% beginning with the 2024-25 school year through The Right Call Initiative.
She assisted Concordia—a Hispanic-serving institution—in acquiring a $2.71 million Title V grant for its Concordia Con Corazón project aimed at supporting Hispanic and low-income students.
“Concordia continues to live into its mission of serving students from all backgrounds, widening the doors to higher education, giving students a chance to come here and be successful, and being deeply proud of serving the region,” Kirk said in an interview with Community Impact.
As president and CEO, Kirk said she hopes to help Concordia continue as Austin’s leading Christian university through engaging and partnering with the area’s Christian community.
Under its strategic plan, the university will further focus on increasing accessibility and affordability by offering more affordable housing and work preparation programs for students, she said. Concordia will also continue providing academic programs that meet workforce needs in Central Texas, Kirk said.
Beyond her work at Concordia, Kirk serves on the board of directors for Concordia High School and the Acts of Love nonprofit, and is involved at Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown. She has six children with her husband, Daniel, and together the couple are licensed foster parents.
The backstory
Kirk began attending Concordia to receive an undergraduate degree in history as an 18-year-old single mother with a 2-year-old son. In 1993, she started working for Concordia as an admissions office manager while attending school and advanced in her career from assistant director of admissions to vice president of student and enrollment services.
Although Kirk said she did not initially plan to work in higher education, she developed a love for Concordia’s learning community and became inspired by its students, she said.
“Concordia makes a difference in students' lives and their families’ lives,” Kirk said. “Higher education is a pathway to change the trajectory of families, and the trajectory of people's careers and the ways that they get to serve the community. It's always been a great privilege to be a part of that.”
She received a master’s degree in American civilization from The University of Texas, and a doctorate in leadership in higher education from Capella University.
The impact
After being the first woman to serve as provost and executive vice president, Kirk said she is honored and humbled to become the university’s first female president. She is grateful for the female professors at Concordia who mentored and challenged her to pursue leadership positions, and thinks of her daughters and Concordia's female students, she said.
“I'm honored to take this role on their behalf and to model for them pathways forward for women to step into spaces where they haven't had an opportunity before,” Kirk told Community Impact.
What’s next
Kirk will begin her new role as president and CEO on Nov. 1, during which Christian will become president emeritus before officially retiring Dec. 31.
