About Sue Kenney

Dr. Sue Kenney has been a dedicated educator at Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA) since 2008, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping students' academic and professional aspirations. She initially taught English for over a decade before transitioning to the Social Studies Department in 2019. Prior to her teaching career, she owned and operated a restaurant in Hackensack and also taught for seven years at William Paterson University in both the English and Women’s Studies Departments.

Dr. Kenney holds a B.A. in English from Arizona State University, an M.A. in English with a writing concentration from William Paterson University, and a Doctor of Letters degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Drew University. In 2021, she earned a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, which helped lay the foundation for her groundbreaking work in developing the first-ever high school Narrative Medicine course at IHA. She also obtained a Certification in Holocaust Education and Prejudice Reduction from Kean University in 2022.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kenney has been recognized for her contributions to education and interdisciplinary studies. She has received several prestigious fellowships, including a Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes ARTEFFECT Ambassador Fellowship (2023), an Alfred B. Lerner Fellowship from the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (2020), and a National Writing Project Fellowship (2008).

Her work in bringing Narrative Medicine into secondary education has positioned her as a thought leader in narrative pedagogy, bridging the gap between humanities, medicine, and reflective storytelling in the classroom.