Shirley Strum Kenny
Encyclopedia
Shirley Strum Kenny is an English scholar and retired university president. Kenny was the fourth president of the State University of New York at Stony Brook
from 1994 until the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. She was the first woman to hold that position. She had served as the president of Queens College from 1985 to 1994.
. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Texas-Dallas, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota
, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
, and honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester, and Chonnam National, Dongguk, and Ajou Universities in Korea
. She has taught at the University of Texas, Gallaudet University
, the Catholic University of America, the University of Delaware
and the University of Maryland
. At Maryland, she was successively chair of the Department of English and provost of the College of Arts and Humanities.
Kenny has published five books and numerous articles in the field of Restoration and eighteenth-century British drama. Her two-volume scholarly edition of the dramatic works of George Farquhar
was published by Oxford University Press
.
Kenny sits on the boards of directors of numerous corporations. She is married to Dr. Robert W. Kenny, and they have five children and four grandchildren.
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
from 1994 until the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. She was the first woman to hold that position. She had served as the president of Queens College from 1985 to 1994.
Life and achievements
Kenny grew up in Tyler, TexasTyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Texas-Dallas, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester, and Chonnam National, Dongguk, and Ajou Universities in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. She has taught at the University of Texas, Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
, the Catholic University of America, the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
and the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. At Maryland, she was successively chair of the Department of English and provost of the College of Arts and Humanities.
Kenny has published five books and numerous articles in the field of Restoration and eighteenth-century British drama. Her two-volume scholarly edition of the dramatic works of George Farquhar
George Farquhar
George Farquhar was an Irish dramatist. He is noted for his contributions to late Restoration comedy, particularly for his plays The Recruiting Officer and The Beaux' Stratagem .-Early life:...
was published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
.
Kenny sits on the boards of directors of numerous corporations. She is married to Dr. Robert W. Kenny, and they have five children and four grandchildren.