Get to Know HFC: Jodi Kenney
Jodi Kenney was one of the original HFC frontline team members when the Welcome Center first opened its doors in 2012.
“The thing I loved the most about that job is that we were trained in every aspect of enrollment services. We learned admissions, registration, financial aid, and everything in between. When a student walked in, we were able to assist them from A to Z without having to leave the lab until all their questions were answered. The feeling of having all that knowledge and being able to assist in such a unique way was very fulfilling,” recalled Kenney, an Enrollment Associate III at HFC.
Different paths are paved
A lifelong Dearborn resident, Kenney has been married to Scott, whom she met in kindergarten, since 2016. Together, they have a blended family of five children whose ages range from 16 to 26.
A 1988 graduate of Fordson High School, Kenney earned her associate degree in general studies from HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) in 2009. Almost a decade later, she earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Siena Heights University in 2018 through the HFC University Center.
“My goal when I graduated from high school was to become a teacher, but sometimes different paths are paved for you. I married and had children and took a break from school for a while. I started working in the Dearborn Public Schools cafeteria to get my foot in the door.”
Journey to HFC
She worked as a secretary at O.L. Smith Middle School, Dearborn High School, and the district’s administrative center at Ten Eyck before moving to the College in 2009. Her first position at HFC was a secretary in the math department. From there, she became a secretary in the registration office.
“My main job duty in registration was processing the admissions applications – both online and paper – that came into the College, along with serving students at the front counter,” she said.
Kenney became an Enrollment Associate when the Welcome Center opened. She has also been a regular on many committees throughout the College, including the Staff Council and the Women’s Recognition Luncheon Committee. Since 2019, she has been in the Assessment Center, reporting to HFC Assistant Director of Enrollment Services, Assessment, and Orientation Nikole Ford-Kondraciuk.
“The pace is a lot slower than what I was doing, but it is also fulfilling in different ways,” said Kenney. “My main responsibilities are administering placement tests for new students and proctoring tests for certain hybrid classes. I enjoy being involved in giving back, especially within our community.”
Giving back to coworkers and the community
Late last year, Kenney was part of the Welcome Center Social Committee that partnered with the HFC Support Staff Association (SSA) Social Committee to adopt three families for Christmas. Of those families, two were laid off HFC employees and the third was a P-12 student.
“We also did a fundraiser within the Welcome Center to help the Hawks Nest with close to $1,000 raised. We did both these fundraisers during the time the College was shut down because of COVID-19,” she said. “Staff in the Welcome Center are not just coworkers, but extended family who come out and support each other. It's an environment that only a few lucky ones are able to experience, and I am glad I am one of them!”
“Jodi has a heart of gold when serving students, helping the community, and her colleagues,” said Ford-Kondraciuk. “Jodi goes above and beyond to serve students and to help keep operations running. She is often up early, handling student questions and getting things set up for the day before the rest of the team arrives. Plus, she pulls us together for social events in the Welcome Center. She leads us in efforts to give back to the community, including organizing donations for local families in need. I am proud that Jodi is part of the Enrollment Services team.”