Person

Kenny, Douglas T.

1924-1996

The University of British Columbia's seventh president Douglas Timothy Kenny was born in Victoria, B.C., in 1924 and educated at Victoria College and UBC. He received his BA (1945) and MA (1947) from UBC and his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 1952. Kenny began his teaching career at UBC as a lecturer in the Department of Psychology in 1950 and rose through the ranks, becoming a full professor in 1964. His academic interests were in teaching and research in personality and learning, developmental psychology and patterns of child development. Kenny became head of the Department of Psychology in 1965 and served in this capacity until he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1970. As head of Psychology, he laid the foundations which enabled that department to achieve its present distinction as one of the premier psychology departments in Canada. As Dean of Arts from 1970 to 1975, he led the Faculty with skill and excellence through a period that saw many challenges to the academic environment of universities in North America. In 1975 Kenny was named as UBC President. His commitment to excellence and devotion to the betterment of this University, its students, its Faculty and its staff were first and foremost in his administration goals. Under his leadership, a wide range of new academic programs and physical facilities were approved for development by the Senate. These accomplishments under his Presidency added significantly to the reputation of UBC as a University that was recognized and respected throughout the world. After stepping down as president in 1983, Kenny returned to the Department of Psychology, where he remained until his retirement in 1988. He died in 1996 at the age of 72. President Kenny was a strong advocate for the cause of higher education in Canada. He played an essential role in advancing scholarship and learning as a member of the Governing Board of the Canada Council (1975-78) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (1978-83). The Senate recognized his contributions to higher education and his Alma Mater with an honorary degree in 1983. In 1984 the Senate also designated the newly constructed facility that houses the Department of Psychology on West Mall, the Douglas T. Kenny Building.

Professor of Psychology, Dean of Arts and President of UBC 1975-1983.