Keenon Cunningham is the Dean of Culture at Alma’s Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus.
What made you decide to join the Crew at Alma?
I am on a learning journey and I want to continue to grow.
What do you hope to contribute to Alma?
I hope to contribute to Alma by being a reliable resource that all staff can have access to. I hope to spread positivity and a fresh perspective on how to address obstacles as they occur. I also hope to foster a culture of equity and high expectations.
What teacher made a difference in your life, and how?
A teacher who made a major difference in my life was Mr. McSherry. I was a bit of a class clown who was able to still thrive academically. One day Mr. McSherry challenged me to be a content driven class clown, who only cracked jokes while answering questions that were related to the material being covered in each lesson/topic. I’m very competitive so I took the challenge seriously. This challenge taught me how to balance being myself and a scholar. This increased my listening skills, my attention to detail in regards to content based information, the ability to use my personality to my benefit in a professional setting, and to increase my engagement as a student. This has helped me as a teacher by learning to think outside the box when trying to engage students and/or manage behaviors as a Teacher/Dean.
Why did you become involved in education?
I became involved with education due to taking advice from my family to be a substitute teacher as a way to make quick money after college. Through applying for a substitute position I was offered positions as a monitor teacher’s assistant. On my first day of being a teacher’s assistant I saw students who reminded me of myself and instantly fell in love with the idea of being able to provide important guidance to the student community that I had to learn through trial and error. I have been in education since then.
Where did you go to college or post-secondary school?
I went to Framingham State University for my undergrad. I attended Fitchburg State University for my Masters.
What did you like about your college?
What I like about my college is the opportunities it created for me.
What is your favorite food?
Steak and Cheese Sub (w/ Ketchup , Mayo, and Hots)
What is your favorite book?
#1- Rich Dad, Poor Dad
#2 – Guaranteed Success