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A Legacy of Impact: Dr. Doug Kennedy Retires After Nearly Four Decades at VWU
Beloved professor leaves behind a legacy of mentorship, innovation, and global impact
When Dr. Doug Kennedy arrived at Virginia Wesleyan in 1987, he didn’t expect to stay long. A Northern New Jersey native with a background on Wall Street and a doctorate from Temple University, he initially came to VWU on a referral from a friend who was unable to fulfill a faculty appointment. He thought he might spend a few years here before moving on. 
Thirty-seven years later, Dr. Kennedy is closing the door on a remarkable chapter—one defined not by longevity, but by the transformative impact he’s had on students, colleagues, and the institution itself. “I’ve seen some people stick around too long and I didn’t want to be that person,” he says, reflecting on his decision to retire. “Also, I've got a few good years left in me and I want to spend them being active politically and helping others."
Among those plans are restoring vintage cars and advocating for survivors of abuse—a cause close to Dr. Kennedy’s heart. But stepping away from the classroom isn’t easy. “I’ll miss the camaraderie of the college environment and seeing how students grow over their four years,” he says. “That transformation has always inspired me.”
When Dr. Kennedy began teaching on campus, things looked a lot different. “It was bare bones—maybe 30 faculty total,” he recalls. “My office was in a trailer for the first 10 years. Everyone wore multiple hats.”
Despite the humble setting, he quickly found something extraordinary at Virginia Wesleyan—a sense of community, encouragement, and purpose. Dr. Kennedy credits then-President Lambuth Clarke with shaping the early part of his career. “He was like a father figure who made us feel like he was going to take care of us,” he says. “He helped instill confidence in me.”
Throughout his tenure as Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions, Dr. Kennedy took that same nurturing spirit and paid it forward. Whether guiding students in the classroom, mentoring future leaders, or developing life-changing experiential opportunities, his influence has rippled across generations.
Among Dr. Kennedy’s proudest accomplishments is his work creating Camp Red Feather, a collaborative summer program run by the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA. The camp offers leadership development opportunities for VWU students who serve as counselors while engaging school-age children in positive, nature-based experiences.
He also pioneered a January Term course in Hawaii, exploring the complex cultural impacts of tourism. Another highlight of his career came in the early 1990s, when he led a delegation to Uzbekistan to train teachers on how to educate children about democracy in the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse. He returned again the following year on a faculty development grant.
Over the decades, Dr. Kennedy built deep relationships across campus and now counts two of his former students among his colleagues: Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success Heather Campbell and Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward.
Virginia Wesleyan’s Provost and Vice President Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson says Kennedy leaves an enduring mark on the University: “Dr. Kennedy’s legacy is not measured in years, but in the lives he’s changed. The impact of his career will echo throughout Virginia Wesleyan University for years to come.”
Looking back on his career, Dr. Kennedy keeps it simple: “I don’t do regret. I don’t go backwards. I’ve always believed that my class should mirror the real world. I hope my students understand that I was trying my best to prepare them for what comes after college.”