Leading from Behind: A Conversation with J. Alan Kendrick

When J. Alan Kendrick, Ph.D., transitioned from academic teaching at St. Augustine’s University (SAU) to an administrative role in The Graduate School at UNC–Chapel Hill in 2007, he didn’t set out to become the face of a graduate school—let alone one at a university down the road sporting a more vibrant shade of blue. 

But during the next stage of his career, after transitioning to a role in Duke Graduate School in 2009, that’s exactly what he became—an energetic, intuitive, and deeply empathetic presence who has shaped the Duke graduate student experience, forged connections with prospective students long before they enrolled, and built bridges across disciplines and communities at Duke. 

Now, as Kendrick transitions from Duke and from his role as Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development, he is enthusiastic about what comes next, and in discovering how he can use his varied skillset and trademark blend of humility and humor in his next venture. 

From Political Scientist to People Scientist 

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Though Kendrick’s list of career accomplishments is a long one, as he sits down to reflect on his career thus far, these accolades are far from the main topic of discussion. Instead, an underlying thread weaves through the conversation about his experiences and philosophy of work. Despite his past career titles, his work has never been about programs or policies; it’s about relating to people. 

Kendrick does indeed understand others on a deep level—what questions they may have, what needs exist, and how he can use his personable and unassuming nature to fill in any gaps. 

“My main constituents for this position at Duke are students,” Kendrick says. “So I had to get out and get to know everybody. As many as I could.”

And get out there he has—Kendrick has represented The Graduate School at conferences and recruiting events across the country, serving as the proverbial “face” of Duke for countless inquiring minds considering graduate education. He says he has never considered himself to be a salesman or official recruiter. Instead, he serves as a connecting point. 

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“When I go to these major recruiting events or conferences, I really believe in the so-called ‘merchandise’ that I’m representing,” Kendrick says. “If a student is coming as an engineer, we talk about their skills and how Duke does engineering across four domains. I ask questions about the kind of research they want to conduct and if I can make connections to faculty or program directors in that area. You see, I’m a social scientist by training.” 

Kendrick’s roots as a social scientist stem from his academic background: he earned an M.A. in Foreign Affairs and a Ph.D. in Government (Political Science) at UVA. This experience has given him keen insight into what makes people and communities tick, a skill that has served him well in administrative and leadership roles. 

When Kendrick joined the faculty at SAU as Assistant Professor of History and Political Science, he was soon promoted to interim chair of the department. As a junior faculty member in such a leadership role, Kendrick approached the position from a dual perspective, using his relatively recent experience as a graduate student himself and a nascent understanding of the administrative and logistical nuances of higher education institutions. Importantly, this gave him unique insight into how institutions can be humanized, connect with prospective students, and recruit and retain top talent. 

“I remember thinking even then, about those connections,” Kendrick says. “I had a colleague who was South Korean, and we were in a political science department. Korea has always been in an important part of the international political science conversation. I remember saying, ‘If the news media wants to talk to someone about these issues, I want Saint Augustine’s to be on that list.’” 

Kendrick adds that pushing for media attention at SAU was not just for clout. Prospective students who were considering Saint Augustine’s, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), would benefit greatly by seeing a community of faculty who represented rich diversity of thought, life experiences, expertise, and backgrounds.  

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In his career at Duke, Kendrick broadened his recruiting philosophy even further, understanding that while marketing a school is essential, providing prospective students the tools needed to make informed decisions about their academic futures allows The Graduate School to offer more varied resources to more people.

“Alan’s training as a political scientist shines through his interactions with every person he meets,” notes his colleague Melissa Bostrom, Ph.D., Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development. “I often joke that he missed his calling in international diplomacy, but he has truly served as an ambassador for Duke University in his sixteen years of service. Students from across the country have come to know Duke through Alan, and especially for those who might think that they don’t belong at an elite institution, Alan has been a kind, articulate, and persuasive advocate that Duke Graduate School welcomes students from all backgrounds and supports their success.”

Programs launched and led by Kendrick, including the Summer Research Opportunity Program, “bootcamps” for undergraduate students, and workshops for master’s students applying to Ph.D. programs, have allowed TGS to serve as a resource to the wider academic student community and not just those joining Duke from matriculation to commencement.  

None of Us Is as Good as All of Us

In recent months, misunderstandings about the positive impacts of sustaining diverse communities in academic and professional settings across the nation have caused such initiatives to stall, or be cancelled altogether. 

Kendrick says he’s seen firsthand the difference it makes when space is given to hear and listen to those with different views. 

“If I had a room full of people that thought just like me,” Kendrick says, “I would personally consider that to be boring, first of all. If we all think the same way and come from the same background, how do we push the envelope? It reminds me of a book title about teamwork at McDonald’s (the fast-food restaurant chain):  None of Us Is as Good as All of Us. Unless you have other perspectives, you can’t become well-rounded and you become stagnant.” 

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Even in his own academic research, where Kendrick studied Black electoral behavior within the African diaspora, he says his perspective as a Black American with Nigerian ancestry (according to DNA testing by Ancestry.com), was still limited. Traveling the world while gaining insights from studying human behavior and class structures “across the pond,” as Kendrick refers to it, was key to a richer understanding of his own research questions.

This same principle applies to graduate students today, Kendrick says, and through his mentorship roles at Duke, he has supported students as they find their own footing as researchers and scholars. Through his role as an administrative dean and mentor in Duke’s University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM), Kendrick has worked one on one with students who now share that they have been deeply moved and changed by working with him.  

“Alan was sort of like an advisor, but someone I knew I could come to about anything,” says Lavonia Duncan, a rising third-year Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering. “In my first year, he was my official mentor through UCEM, though every time I’ve come to the building now I stop by his office. The greatest thing I learned from Alan is to keep pushing on, even when you don’t want to, and to have patience.” 

It’s clear that the other scholars in the UCEM program echo Duncan’s sentiments. In a farewell gathering held for Kendrick, a third of the total scholars in the history of the program came to wish him well and celebrate his time at Duke. 

Kendrick often listens to praise with a sense of humility, as he has always preferred to lead quietly. “The headline for my time here?” He muses, “Leading from behind.”

A Man with A Plan, and a Playlist

Kendrick’s most visible roles in The Graduate School have also been the liveliest. As a self-identified extrovert, he has been well-known as the dean behind many of The Graduate School’s social events—but the reason he has advocated for these gatherings is far more important than just good food and great tunes. 

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“A lot of my work has been listening, and when you interact with students, they'll be honest with you,” Kendrick says. “They'll tell you they've made a lot of friends in their department, but don't know anybody in the building next door. So how do we get them to interact? And sure enough, because of those small interactions in some way, there were connections that were made.”

With 3,500 students in The Graduate School, siloes may exist in each department or program, but Kendrick says that The Graduate School is uniquely positioned to provide opportunities for students to network and connect with those in other disciplines. 

This cross-disciplinary culture in The Graduate School has moved beyond just social and informal gatherings to more intentional ones, such as TGS’s partnership with other campus units to offer interdisciplinary programming, including research collaborations such as the Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives (IGEC).

Simple opportunities to connect and network, Kendrick says, are often overlooked as vehicles for jumpstarting such collaborations. How do you get busy graduate students to take time to interact with one another, and learn what is happening in other labs or classrooms? It may be simpler than you think. 

“You have to eat at some point,” Kendrick says with a laugh. “Why not use that as an opportunity.” 

It should be said, though, that Kendrick did often bring the good food and great tunes, with tailored soundtracks and playlists for events, or live musicians when the occasion called for it. He has been affectionately nicknamed the “Party Dean” for his ability to bring people together in celebration, fellowship, and community. 

What Comes Next

As The Graduate School prepares to adjust to life and work post-Kendrick, he is also preparing for his own next steps. Suzanne Barbour, Dean of The Graduate School, shares that TGS will deeply feel the loss of Kendrick's positive presence. 

"Alan has often shared that students are his main customers," Dean Barbour says. "I must disagree. All of those he encountered—from students and faculty to staff and school leadership—were benefactors of his professional expertise and remarkable ability to make others feel seen and heard. I cherish the moments of levity brought about by our many conversations. It is no wonder his desk was just by our office coffeepot! On behalf of The Graduate School, thank you, Alan, for enriching our community for so many years. We wish you the best in whatever lies ahead." 

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During this time of transition, Kendrick is engaging in his own self-discovery—planning some long-awaited international travel and even pulling out his old trumpet to revisit his time as a musician. 

Reflecting on his years of bringing the music to graduate school events, Kendrick thinks for a minute about what song he would put on a playlist for his life. 

“It’s funny, but I am thinking about Chumbawamba,” he says, and then sings in perfect key: “I get knocked down, but I get up again.” 

Don’t expect to see Kendrick in a 90s cover band just yet, though. He says his trumpet needs some reworking and tuning before it’s ready for primetime.