Donna Kenley’s Experience
Candidate for Alexandria School Board – District C
Dr. Kenley was born in Charlotte, NC and joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1974 after receiving her BA, MA and a Teaching Certificate in 12th grade Civics. Donna’s last assignment in 2001 was at the Pentagon. Following her retirement in 2004, Donna has lived in Alexandria. She received her Ph.D. at George Mason University in 2009.
Much of Donna’s life has been spent in committed service – Education, Community, and Military. She served:
- as a tutor and subcommittee member of the Alexandria School Board.
- in the U.S. Army for 30 years (1974 to 2004) retiring as a Colonel.
- as a college professor, educator, and leader at military and civilian colleges and universities.
Service in Education
Tutoring
“Every child needs to be able to read. Nothing is more important than that! The key to an equitable chance to achieve success is tutoring.”
- Donna Kenley
I began my tutoring experience in 2019 at Patrick Henry Elementary. In 2023, I became a Book Buddies tutor through the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) for a first-grade student at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary. This one-on-one tutoring experience clarified the importance of community support for all students and inspired my run for school board.
Special Education Advisory Committee Member
I serve as a member of (SEAC). Over the past year I worked with other SEAC members to identify the needs of students with disabilities and to address those needs to the School Board. Specifically, I was responsible for the Anne R. Lipnick Awards Ceremony held on June 6, 2024. I learned a great deal about the importance of collaboration in my coordination with the Office of Specialized Instruction and School Board Clerk. The Awards Ceremony recognized those administrators, teachers, and other support staff who exemplified excellence in specialized instruction.
Service in Community
Community Spirit Award – West End Alexandria VA
I received the Mark Pillow Community Spirit Award in 2019 for continuous service and far-reaching benefits for the wider Alexandria community.
Operation Gobble Gobble: 14th Annual Community-Wide Thanksgiving Project
Over the past decade, I have spearheaded the Annual Cameron Station Community-Wide Thanksgiving project which raises $10,000 in grocery gift certificates and meal bags for over 100 Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School families who can use a little help during the season.
People Animals Love (PAL) -Therapy Dog Team
I served with Lily Dog as a Pet Therapy Team at Beatley Library; with wounded warriors at Walter Reid Army Medical Center; at the D.C. Veterans Hospital; and the DeWitt Army Hospital, Ft. Belvoir with People Animals Love (PAL). I also served in nursing homes and assisted living facilities with Fairfax Pets on Wheels.
Volunteer at National Museum of the U.S. Army
Donna volunteers at the National Museum of the U.S. Army which is located near Ft. Belvoir. The “poppy” on the T-Shirt is a universally recognized symbol of remembrance of soldiers who gave their lives, and was immortalized in the poem “In Flanders Fields” from World War I.
Alexandria Democratic Committee (ADC)
I was elected Vice Chair Precinct Operations West, ADC (2021-2023) and organized volunteer greeters at 14 precinct polls on Election Day and at the West End Farmers Market during election season. I also served as Precinct Captain at Beatley Library (2019-2023) organizing election day and early voting volunteers.
Service in Military
Army Military Service
Donna’s experience as a Military Intelligence Officer included Strategic Planning; Education and Training; Mentorship, Leadership, and Teamwork; Resource Management; and Crisis Action Center Operations.
She has:
- Supervised the Defense Attaché School; served as Associate Dean and Professor, National Intelligence University.
- Commanded over 350 service members, managed staffs and directed programs with multi-million-dollar budgets to include 40 separate organizations spread over 150,000 square miles.
- Served in tactical, operational, and strategic assignments to include strategic planning across service departments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and on The Joint Staff.
- Received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and multiple Joint and Army Medals and authorized to wear the Office of Secretary of Defense and The Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges.
College Professor and Educator
Donna has 18 years of educational supervision and teaching experience in graduate-level Intelligence and National Security-related courses at the National Intelligence University, Army Command and General Staff College, George Mason University, and American Military University. She:
- Taught graduate students in National Security Policy, Intelligence, and Research Methodology and guided hundreds of Graduate Students’ study of History and Conflict from an Intelligence/National Security perspective to complete their master’s Theses in military and civilian colleges and universities.
- Received Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University; MS Administration, Central Michigan University; MA Political Science, University of Tennessee, BA Political Science University of North Carolina.
Command and General Staff College
