Aviso: What is your favorite part of being at Malone?

King: These two things are the things that come instantly to mind: number one, the students; number two, the clear sense of fit.

Aviso: Where did you grow up?

King:I lived in Holmes County from Toddler to fifth grade, specifically Walnut Creek. From fifth grade into high school, I lived in West Liberty. I

came back up to Wayne County for my last two years of high school. I grew up in Ohio, so it’s kind of fun to be back where the Buckeyes are meaningful.

Aviso: What did you want to be when you grew up?

King: It wasn’t the college president ironically enough. When I was a kid I wanted to be two things at once: I wanted to be an architect and a cattle farmer. Between my sophomore and junior year of college I changed my major from physical education to social work. I had a clear sense as if what I wanted to do when I grew up was help people. At the end of the day I want to have a clear sense that I have fully spent myself for Him in ways He has purposed.

Aviso: What is the most interesting “Malonism”:

King: I heard the phrase recently: “Awkward barn couple.”

Aviso: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

King: Assuming that people often times might experience me as an extrovert; I’m really not an extrovert. Since Malone people see me and perceive me in a particular way…with a coat and tie…I’m not a coat and tie kind of guy at all. I much prefer shorts and a t-shirt.

Aviso: Were you in any clubs or organizations in high school or college?

King: In high school, I was a class officer and I was on the fish-fry committee. During college I played a year of basketball and a year of soccer. I was part of an intentional community, a group of ten students who lived off campus in college sponsored housing and a faculty member lived with us. Beyond those things, in college I was kind of a wallflower.

Aviso: Do you prefer the moose or the pioneer?

King: With all due respect to whatever work study student might occupy the costumes, I prefer the pioneer. Not only do I prefer the pioneer, I think we should have two of them:  a male and a female. Our athletic teams deserve two mascots: a Walter and an Emma Pioneer.

Aviso: If you were to dress up for Halloween what costume would you choose?

King: A moose.

Aviso: Do you have any weird phobias or fears?

King: I don’t like the idea of getting locked out of a car. I never gotten used to and I do not like electronic car locks. I much rather put my key in a door and turn it. I always have to check twice.

Aviso: If could be any character from a movie or a TV show who would you choose and why?

King: I think I’d be Tom Hanks in Castaway. It gets to the idea of really knowing oneself. How would you respond when it’s essentially just you, a volleyball and God for a really long time—I was always struck by that.

Aviso: Would you survive in the hunger games?

King: I would say no. Without being Pollyannaish here, it goes back to the idea of what prompted me to pursue the path I pursued in college, which was I just want to help people; so that’s the antithesis.

Steena Hymes is the managing/news editor for The Aviso AVW.