At Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s 2024 Alumnae/i Days gathering, four alums were honored for their work and recognized as this year’s distinguished alumnae/i or received The Fred Rogers Award for Creative Ministry. In this blog series, meet these alums and discover the ways in which they serve God and neighbor in their communities and across the nation. The 2024 Distinguished Alumnus in Academia is Dr. Kenneth H. Yount ’72.
Distinguished Alumnus in Academia: Dr. Kenneth H. Yount
Dr. Kenneth H. Yount is a retired professor of political science and history and former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Alderson Broaddus University. He earned a bachelor’s in political science from Alderson Broaddus, summa cum laude, a master’s in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s in religious education from PTS, cum laude, and a Ph.D. in political science from West Virginia University.
At various times while on the faculty at Alderson Broaddus from 1974 to 2012, Ken also served as director of the honors program, chair of the division of social sciences, director of admissions, instructor in political science and journalism, and director of public information. He also served on the religious ministries committee, frequently preached in chapel, and spoke regularly for the university’s Baptist Campus Ministries. Prior to his tenure at Alderson Broaddus, Ken worked as an editor and writer for the Beckley Post-Herald and as an editor and columnist for the Fairmont Times-West Virginian.
Ken is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his teaching. He was chosen by students as Faculty Merit Professor of the Year or Outstanding Professor several times, was twice honored for excellence in teaching by the American Political Science Association, and was a three-time finalist for the West Virginia Faculty Merit Professor of the Year Award. In May 2023 he was named “Poet Laureate” of Barbour County, W.Va.
A native of Ford City, Pa., Ken has traveled to all 50 states, every province in Canada, and 25 countries in Europe. Alongside his wife, Carol, he has visited all seven continents, culminating in a trip to Antarctica in 2014. During that trip, Ken was named “Poet Laureate of Antarctica” after winning a poetry contest among the 85 entries on the trip.
Ken has always been active in his community, including nonprofit work, political service, and religious education. He has been a Sunday school teacher, fill-in preacher, moderator for the Union Baptist Association in his area of West Virginia, and president of Baptist Theological Fellowship. He has engaged in foreign mission work in India, Thailand, and Bolivia. Ken is an accomplished writer who has produced works on history, travel, and government. In addition to articles and book reviews published in professional journals, Ken has written a number of books, including The Gaukers and the Nunamakers, 500 Days in Europe (Volumes I and II), Ends of the Earth, Newspaper Days, Introduction to Political Science, and The Cutoff of Federal Revenue Sharing.
Read about the life, work, and ministry of the other 2024 PTS Distinguished Alumni in the section below.
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