Alumni Spotlight: Kenyon Duner ‘00
Clarke: At Clarke, we talk a lot about the power of community. It seems to be a lesson you’ve taken to heart with your career.
Kenyon: Definitely! I currently work as the Accessibility Coordinator for the Forest Preserves of Cook County. I’ve also been on my town’s Parks and Recreation Commission for the last 13 years and recently was elected to the board of the Progress Center for Independent Living, a non-profit that provides resources for individuals with disabilities.
My goals moving forward are a lot simpler than they used to be. They mostly revolve around being a good father and husband while making the community I live in better for everyone. Motivation is easily provided any time I’m at work and can look out into the 70,000 acres of forest preserves and realize my job is to make sure everybody can access those spaces, no matter what kind of difficulties they may face.
Outside of work, when I’m not playing softball, I’m umpiring high school and little league softball as well as flag football. I’ve been able to umpire multiple Little League District and State Championship games at various levels and it’s gone well enough I wasn’t concerned about sharing the experience on social media. I’ve also literally been on the field for most of my daughter’s softball games (not any playoff games!) which has been awesome, even if I call more strikes on her so it doesn’t look sketchy.
Clarke: How do you feel a liberal arts education has served you in your life and career?
Kenyon: I feel like I’m a good billboard for the importance of a liberal arts education. At Clarke, I had a lot of positive experiences with approaching new things asking “why not?” instead of “why?” My major in Philosophy and minor in Justice and Peace Studies was the culmination of many “why nots” as well as my four years as a cheerleader and time as a Resident Assistant. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t use what I’ve learned in my job, my community, and my home life. With the proliferation of AI there’s a lot of ethical decisions that aren’t being asked anymore that we need to be sure are addressed. Values such as those learned from places like Clarke are important to understand to be able to frame those questions.
Clarke: You recently joined the Alumni Association Board. Why do you feel like it is important to get involved?
Kenyon: Since graduating, I’ve stayed in touch the usual ways like social media and homecomings. Last year I came for my 25th Reunion so that was pretty exciting. There’s an important connection there because I think there’s value in keeping in contact with the people who were around you during the college experience where you’re mostly the person you’re going to be, but not quite there yet. People see you differently and it’s a welcome perspective. By joining the Alumni Board, I can reinforce that experience for others as well.
Clarke: Any Advice for the students of today?
Kenyon: Be a lifelong learner and keep reading. Read the newspaper, read the ingredients in your soup, “read” the instructions to your IKEA furniture, read the signs when you’re driving, and read some terrible fanfiction every once in a while. It all adds up when you do, just as it will add up if you don’t.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Kenyon! Do you know a member of the Clarke alumni community we should highlight? Submit your nominations for a future Alumni Spotlight by emailing alumnirelations@clarke.edu.
Interview edited for length and clarity.