Kennesaw State University Athletics

Dr. Keene served as a professor and chair at Kennesaw State for more than 40 years, including nine years as chair of the Kennesaw State Athletics Board, while serving as a leader in KSU’s transition from Division II to Division I. He also helped lay the foundation of academic performance and achievement of student-athletes, and was instrumental in establishing the strong supporting relationship between academics and athletics at Kennesaw State. He additionally served as division chair of the Football Exploratory Committe. Dr. Keene began his service to KSU as a professor of history in 1973. In 1980 he received a Fulbright Fellowship for a study/travel seminar in India and spent the 1986-87 academic year in China as the first participant in a faculty exchange that has continued between Kennesaw State and Jiangsu Province ever since. He chaired the USG Asia Council, which facilitates multi-institution Asia-related activity within the System. From that position he organized the first of the USG-sponsored faculty development seminars in 1994. Keene directed the KSU International Center (now the Institute for Global Initiatives) from 1988-2003. In 2007 he received the KSU Foundation’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award.