Dr. Ann Kenimer is stepping into a new chapter at ABET as chief accreditation officer, building on more than 20 years of dedicated volunteer service in various roles, including Accreditation Council chair and Engineering Accreditation Commission chair. Now, she’s bringing her hands-on approach and passion for education to ABET’s headquarters team, ready to continue making a difference.
With her deep understanding of ABET’s mission and a history of making meaningful changes, Kenimer is ready to lead the organization’s efforts to continue setting the gold standard for accreditation worldwide. “I’m just looking forward to learning more about the operation in total and doing what I can to support how things operate, making certain that things run as smoothly as I can,” Kenimer reflected.
Forging a Path in Engineering
Kenimer’s passion for engineering started at a young age, sparked by growing up in an environment surrounded by engineers and scientists. Both of her parents studied engineering, and many of her neighbors worked in the field, creating a community where problem-solving and technical conversations were the norm. “I knew probably as early as six that I wanted to be an engineer,” Kenimer recalled.
Her mother’s journey in particular left a strong impression. During World War II, her mother broke barriers by studying aeronautical engineering, a field that was male-dominated at the time. Though she was not able to finish the degree, she worked as a “computer,” performing crucial calculations for wind tunnel and aerodynamics research at NASA’s predecessor. “Wanting to be an engineer as a girl in my household was perfectly normal,” Kenimer stated.
Beyond her family’s influence, Kenimer’s surroundings also contributed to her interest in the environment. Growing up near the coast, she became fascinated with water resources, something that would shape her educational pursuits for years to come. In high school, a Virginia Tech recruiting program introduced her to soil and water conservation engineering, and the connection was immediate. “I thought, ‘Okay, this is the right fit for me.’ And it was,” Kenimer remembered. She went on to earn three degrees in agricultural engineering.
Her passion naturally led her to Texas A&M, where she would spend the next three decades shaping the university’s programs and supporting student success.
Leading with Vision and Impact
During her three-decade career at Texas A&M University, Kenimer made a lasting impact through her leadership, collaboration and dedication to student success. One of her most significant achievements was establishing the Academic Success Center, which now serves around a quarter of the university’s undergraduates with tutoring, workshops and coaching to help them thrive.
Kenimer’s vision extended beyond the main campus. She played a key role in bringing Texas A&M programs to McAllen, Texas, a community near the Mexican border. Her efforts helped bring greater access to higher education for local students, offering them the opportunity to pursue degrees without leaving their region.
Whether launching new student programs or bringing education to underserved communities, Kenimer’s leadership at Texas A&M was marked by a commitment to growth, collaboration, and making a meaningful difference.
Kenimer Steps into Leadership at ABET
After years of leadership at Texas A&M, Kenimer was considering retirement. However, the opportunity to join ABET’s headquarters was too compelling to pass up. Having spent over 20 years volunteering with the organization, she was deeply familiar with its mission and the community dedicated to advancing quality education.
Kenimer’s years of experience as an evaluator give her a unique perspective on accreditation, and now, from an administrative side, she’s focused on improving efficiency. “I would like to spend a little time here in the first few years making certain that we’re as efficient and effective as we can be,” she explained. She pointed out that many of ABET’s processes were created when the organization handled far fewer programs and may need to be reassessed as the organization scales globally.
With her strategic vision and collaborative leadership, Kenimer is poised to help ABET continue setting the gold, global standard for higher education quality assurance.
