Dr. Kendall Pete became the Executive Director of Residential Life in January 2025, In this inaugural role, Dr. Pete oversees Housing Services, Residential Education, and Living-Learning Programs.
He joins us from Radford University, where he was director of residential life. Dr. Pete brings visionary leadership, a focus on values, and team-based strategic planning to every aspect of an inclusive residential experience. He supports the growth and development of staff, and is committed to providing resident students with transformative experiences that help them feel welcome, cared for, and prepared for success at UMBC and beyond.
Dr. Pete’s professional background has its roots in community psychology and clinical counseling. He is trained in human relations dialogue facilitation; group and individual counseling; and case management. Dr. Pete’s experience as a mental health professional mental health heavily influences his approach to his work, which has been useful while leading during crisis situations and organizational change in the higher education context.
As a scholar practitioner, Dr. Pete balances scholarship, teaching, and service activities while maintaining a full-time administrative role. He teaches as an adjunct faculty member of the Virginia Tech higher education program. Courses include university leadership and higher education administration as well as foundation courses such as the history of higher education. His research interests center on Black student affairs professionals and higher education organizations. More specifically, Dr. Pete’s research explores the career journeys of mid-level administrators, supervision, leadership, and healthy organizations. He contributes to the higher education profession in many ways. Dr. Pete currently serves as a reviewer for the College Student Affairs Journal and the Journal of College and University Student Housing. He has co-authored a book chapter on career transitions, and sponsored research centered on workplace well-being.
Dr. Pete’s professional involvement at the national level includes the supporting mental health sub-committee with The Association of College and University Housing Officers-International’s (ACUHO-I) Future of the Profession; and he is a coordinating faculty member of ACUHO-I’s Behavioral Well-being Institute, focused on improving mental health literacy in the residential community setting. Dr. Pete also serves on the ACPA – College Student Educators International’s Leadership Council with fiduciary responsibility for the association as a Member at Large. He has a strong commitment to the profession because Dr. Pete believes in the transformative power of education.
Dr. Pete received his B.A. in Psychology from Hampton University; a M.A. in Community and Clinical Psychology from Norfolk State University; and a Ph.D. In Higher Education Administration from Virginia Tech.
Outside of work, he is somewhat of a foodie, enjoys good music, volunteer service with his fraternity, and spending time with loved ones. After having completed his first flip, Dr. Pete is very into home design and renovation. He is patiently awaiting his debut on HGTV.
