Dr. Heather Kennedy
Areas of Expertise
- Family Science
- Graduate Faculty
- Mental Health
- Pedagogy
Biography
Dr. Heather R. Kennedy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology, and Family Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she prepares graduate students for professional practice in counseling. She teaches courses in counseling techniques, marriage and family counseling, diagnosis, and child and adolescent development. Dr. Kennedy is committed to helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness needed to become thoughtful, ethical, and effective counselors.
With more than 25 years of clinical and professional experience, Dr. Kennedy has worked with individuals, couples, and families across a variety of clinical and community settings. She is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), and Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). Her clinical experience shapes her teaching, where she emphasizes the integration of evidence-based practice, intentional self-reflection, multicultural awareness, and experiential learning to help students develop confidence and competence as counseling professionals.
Before joining the UNK faculty in 2022, she served on the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and taught undergraduate and graduate courses at both the UNI and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). From 2022 to 2026, she taught in UNK's Family Science program before transitioning to the Counseling and School Psychology graduate program. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a specialization in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and a graduate certificate in Mixed Methods Research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Dr. Kennedy's scholarship centers on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and the well-being of marginalized populations. Her research explores how learning environments, critical thinking, inclusive teaching practices, and social policy influence student learning, individual well-being, and family outcomes. She has published and presented nationally and internationally and remains actively engaged in professional leadership, service, and mentoring.
A Nebraska native, Dr. Kennedy enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. She believes that meaningful learning occurs through curiosity, reflection, and authentic connection, and she strives to create learning environments that challenge, support, and inspire students as they develop into competent and compassionate professionals with a lifelong commitment to learning.
