Benjamin C. Kennedy

Benjamin C. Kennedy (he/him) is a transgender author, educator, and activist who grew up in rural Maryland and later received both his BS and M.Ed. from The University of Vermont. He is a PhD candidate in Education Studies at UC San Diego, where his work focuses on equity policy, international education comparison, and helping educators to create queer and trans affirming curriculum and classrooms. Ben is a sought after international public speaker, guest lecturer, and consultant on transgender issues and gender diversity in schools. He is a national facilitator with Welcoming Schools, a Board Member for Alliance for Trans Youth Rights and Advocates 4 Trans Equality, and a youth mentor at San Diego Pride. Ben has collaborated with The National Center for Transgender Equality, Planned Parenthood, Gender Odyssey, Bernie Sanders' Senate office, and other organizations, and has been published in diverse outlets including multiple books, several academic journals, HuffPost, NPR, and more. He is a Competitive Edge Fellow, Kroner Fellow, and participated in the Hunter-Simes Institute in Sexuality Studies Fellowship in Sydney, Australia. Outside of academics, he is a competitive CrossFit athlete and Halloween enthusiast. Ben and his wife Becca have three cats, a three-legged pitbull, and a rotating crew of foster animals including over 200 neonatal kittens and orphaned baby wildlife. Together they are passionate about good food, good music, and being good to others.

Curriculum Vitae

The University of California, San Diego | PhD in Education Studies 2020-2025
The University of Vermont | M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
The University of Vermont | B.S. in Early Childhood Special Education
Summa cum laude, concentrations in psychological sciences, music, and Spanish                  

Hunter-Simes Institute in Sexuality Studies Fellowship, Sydney Australia.  Competitive Edge Fellowship, ​The University of California, San Diego
Kroner Dean’s Fellowship, ​The University of California, San Diego
Office of Special Education Programs Grant, U.S. Department of Education

San Diego Pride Youth Mentor of the Year
Educational Leadership Masters Program Graduate Award in Education and Public Affairs. This award signifies a core tenet of the Program, that high quality educational services must be administered in partnership with other mental health and human services.
University of Vermont Prism Center Jackie Weinstock Service Award. This recognizes an LGBTQ individual working to better the quality of life for LGBTQA people at UVM.
University of Vermont Prism Center Provost’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusion Award. This award recognizes an LGBTQ student who has demonstrated a commitment to advancing social justice and cultural diversity at UVM through education.