USD Division of Health Affairs Selects Kenyon to Lead Diversity and Inclusion and MPH Programs
Kenyon received a Ph.D. in family studies and human development from the University of Arizona and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in adolescent health at the University of Minnesota.
She has served as a scientist and researcher at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls since 2008, and since 2015, she has served as an associate scientist and director of the Population Health Group at Sanford Research. Since 2014, Kenyon has served as an associate professor at the USD Sanford School of Medicine.
Kenyon’s research work includes increasing opportunities in research for underrepresented students, particularly Native American undergraduate students. Several of her specific projects emphasized and encouraged Native American success and persistence in college, and she studied teen pregnancy and sexual health among Native Americans. She served as the administrative lead for the “Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health,” which brings together tribal communities, academic institutions, community organizations, service providers, health care systems and government agencies to interact in conducting cutting-edge transdisciplinary research with the goal of eliminating health and other disparities experienced by American Indians.
“Dr. Kenyon brings a wealth of experience, and we are pleased to welcome her to USD,” said Dr. Mary Nettleman, vice president for Health Affairs at the University of South Dakota.
Kenyon will begin her new duties at USD in March 2019.
