Learner Stories: Judy Kenney

Employer relations specialist

Judith Kenney's unwavering determination to complete her PhD keeps her from being distracted by anything—even war. Kenney is an employer relations specialist for Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) and is stationed in Iraq. She conducts workplace investigations, provides training, and advises employees for KBR. "I try to assist in any way possible to try to resolve conflict in the workplace," she says.

She is earning her PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in human resource management, and her resolve to complete her degree is a testament to her dedication.

Kenney began her educational journey in the United States Air Force and continued her education while working at Calphalon, a division of Newell Rubbermaid. Kenney's long-term goal is to become an online professor, but her course work is also opening her eyes to new ways of performing her current job. "The skills I'm gaining at Capella are not just preparing me to write a dissertation—they are skills I can apply every day. It has changed the way I approach things," says Kenney.

In her current work with KBR, she needs to balance long, intense days with course work at night. Her full-time work in Iraq often includes 12-hour days, so she might not get to her doctoral studies until midnight or 1 a.m. "The technology has made it really work for me," she says.

Capella's faculty, especially her mentor, sets the school apart for Kenney. She has also found friends and colleagues through interaction with Capella students. She and her classmates complete group projects and give each other feedback through e-mail. "There’s always someone else who's going through the exact same thing that you're going through and can help coach and mentor you. It really is a learning community."