Father Joel M. Konzen, SM

ATLANTA—Marist School has announced that its principal, Marist Father Joel M. Konzen, has been appointed the school’s president by Father Paul Frechette, SM, provincial superior of the Society of Mary U.S. Province. Father Konzen will assume his new position July 1, 2018.

“We are blessed to have a new president who will continue the legacy of outstanding Marist School leadership,” said William G. Roche, chairman of the school’s board of trustees. “Father Joel Konzen is the perfect person to lead Marist into the future.”

Father Konzen took his first position at the school in 1980, where he remained for nine years in roles as teacher, admissions director, principal and president. In 1989, he moved to Washington, D.C., as a graduate student at The Catholic University of America and vicar provincial of the former Marist Washington Province of the Society of Mary. In 1991, he received a master’s degree in education administration from The Catholic University and from 1992 to 1997 was principal and president at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas. In 1997, he returned to Washington, D.C., where he was vicar provincial for two years. Father Konzen returned to Marist School in Atlanta in 1999, where he has since served as principal and has taught a leadership class, bringing in leaders from various industries to speak to students. He serves on the boards of Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy in Pontiac, Michigan; Notre Dame Academy, Duluth; Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, Atlanta; and the Georgia Independent School Association. Father Konzen was instrumental in creating Reach for Excellence, a program sponsored by Society of Mary on Marist School’s campus, which prepares under-resourced middle school students for success in college-prep high schools. In 2015, the priest received the Educational Excellence Award of the National Catholic Educational Association in honor of his long service to Catholic schools.

“Ever since my first appointment in 1980, I’ve enjoyed serving the families and the faculty and staff of Marist in the various roles I’ve been assigned. And it’s been a pleasure to partner with so many great Marists over those years, too, including four presidents—Father Hartnett, Father Egan, Father Harhager and now Father Rowland,” said Father Konzen. “Having had some limited experience of being president before, I know that I am being entrusted to fulfill the expectations of both the Society of Mary and the Marist School community. As I have throughout my time at Marist, I will work as best I can to advance the school’s mission to form and educate young people in the image of Christ.”

Kevin Mullally

“Father Konzen possesses all the personal skills, professional competence and spiritual wisdom of the Society of Mary that would have made him an ideal provincial,” said Father Frechette. “It is apparent, though, that God had other plans. Father Konzen has spent 28 years of his ministry at Marist School. This is no accident. It is because of the gracious choice of Mary. Think about all the students and faculty, parents and alumni whose lives have been impacted for the better because of Father Konzen. Now you can see how the graciousness of Mary has been lavishly bestowed upon the school that bears her name through this Marist religious and his fidelity to everything her name entails.”

Along with Father Konzen’s appointment, acting president Father William F. Rowland, SM, announced that Marist School vice principal and academic dean Kevin Mullally has been named the school’s new principal, effective July 1, 2018.

A graduate and former English teacher at Atlanta’s St. Pius X High School, Mullally came to Marist School in 2008. He was previously the school’s academic dean, dean of faculty and assistant dean of students before assuming his current role as vice principal and academic dean at the beginning of this school year. He also taught English and served as coach of Marist’s academic team. Mullally earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia as well as a master’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and completed coursework at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, in school supervision and administration.

“Kevin Mullally comes into this office of principal with experience in an impressive variety of roles,” said Father Konzen.

“I have enjoyed my decade-long service to Marist School and am honored to continue to advance its mission to form the whole person in the image of Christ through the office of the principal,” said Mullally.

Father Rowland will be acting president until Father Konzen and Mullally assume their new positions this summer. He will then return to his role as special assistant to the president while serving as alumni chaplain. Father Rowland was named acting president in October when former president Father John Harhager, SM, became vicar general of the international Society of Mary in Rome, Italy.