they want to be a part of all of this, and they think it’s exciting.

How have you and your family enjoyed living in South Carolina?

Watch Mahony answer more questions from Professor of En- glish John Bird during a recent interview along Scholars Walk.

You have a lovely family. What would you like readers to know about your wife, Laura, and your children, Gavin and Elena?

First, let me say, my family has been tremendously supportive throughout this transition, and I’m certainly grateful. Laura and I have been married for more than 20 years. She has a B.A. in linguistics from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Louisville. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has had experience working with abused children. Our son, Gavin, is a sophomore in high school. He will be participating in wrestling and has a strong interest in business and finance. Our daughter, Elena, is in the seventh grade. She plays volleyball and basketball and has been involved in student council and programs related to the arts. We also have an 11-year- old Border Collie-Labrador mix named Washington.

How do you balance work and family life?

This is a 24/7 job, but I think having a family requires you to take yourself out of the job and focus on them, which is healthy and good. The kids are excited about being here. From the first time we visited this spring they saw the advantages of living on campus—

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South Carolina is a very friendly place, and we have felt very much at home throughout our visits and the move here because of the way people have treated us. We have spent time exploring the surrounding areas of Rock Hill and enjoyed the beach in July. We’re definitely looking forward to less harsh winters than what we experienced in Ohio— no more weeks of 20-below temperatures!

If you could go to any place on earth, where would you go and why?

I would love to go to Australia. My favorite vacations usually involve the beach, but there is also so much more in Australia that I would love to see. It has been at the top of my “must see” places in the world for a long time.

Any final thoughts that you’d like to share?

I’m, again, very honored to be a part of Team Winthrop, and I’m excited about the opportunities to move Winthrop forward. I’m especially grateful to the Board of Trustees and all of those who have expressed their confidence in me. I’m a big believer in the power of collaboration. I believe that communities are stronger when concerns and decision-making are shared. And I certainly believe that in a university setting like Winthrop’s, we are stronger when we are pulling together—committed to the work ahead of us. I’m looking forward to providing sound and steady leadership that can help further elevate Winthrop to the national level, and I’m eager to meet as many of Winthrop’s wonderful alumni and friends as I possibly can.

Learn more about Mahony by visiting www.winthrop.edu/president