Bob Kenley, Service-Learning Fellow

Bob Kenley believes “systems serve people.” As professor at the Purdue University Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering , Dr. Kenley dedicates himself to engaging with the world outside of the abstract. Dr. Kenley points out that systems are anything with complex individual parts that interact and result in a behavior that would otherwise not occur on its own. As a Service-Learning fellow, he brings a sociological framework to the world of systems. Specifically, his work in Purdue Systems Collaboratory helps “facilitate broad, transdisciplinary investigations of systems, their interactions with other diverse and assumed unrelated systems, and the after-effects of major system disruptions.”

Alongside his commitment, he cites the support from the Office of Engagement at Purdue University of Engagement as pivotal in providing connective resources, funding, and pathways for applied work.

With unfettered commitment, Bob Kenley infused his graduate course, SYS 530 Practical Systems Thinking, with applied systems projects proposed by students, which has resulted in outcomes such as a system concept of a Driver’s Ed program for a Boys & Girls club in Michigan that is currently in development for implementation.

He also overcame setbacks such as the pandemic and lack of graduate student interest among students enrolled in SYS 530 in a community partnership with HomesteadCS, and pivoted by turning to the undergraduate population in his SYS 400 Systems Praxiscourse. Students in SYS 400 recommended system concepts for an online course that covers budgeting, tenant rights and responsibilities, and how to qualify to be a homeowner. He supercharged the initiative by using his Service-Learning Fellowship grant from the Office of Engagement to hire undergraduate interns to define the course curriculum and develop the online course content, and by establishing a partnership with Purdue Steps to Leaps to deploy the course. After two years of work, and trial and error, Dr. Kenley (1) identified a system, (2) developed a solution, and (3) began real-time deployment with the help of community partners and student involvement.

Alongside his commitment, he cites the support from the Office of Engagement as pivotal in providing connective resources, funding, and pathways for applied work.

In his role as a Service-Learning Fellow, Dr. Kenley believes his pragmatic and holistic approach to systems is responsible for the ultimate success of such efforts.

He encourages anyone in service-learning work to maintain a long-term commitment to their projects because a plan, though necessary, can always be challenged. One must be willing to engage in a multi-year effort with the right people and adapt as needed along the way.

Source: Kamilah Valentin Diaz