Philanthropist
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2018
Citation:
Nancy Greening Kennedy is an accomplished businesswoman, a vigorous community volunteer and a purposeful philanthropist.
After graduating from University of Detroit in 1983, Mrs. Kennedy worked as an accountant with Arthur Anderson. She left the firm after five years when she and her husband, John, also an alumnus, purchased American Corp. In the 25 years they owned the company, the Kennedys expanded it into a major international enterprise with facilities on four continents, 2,000 employees and more than $300 million in sales.
Mrs. Kennedy continued her impressive career by devoting more time to volunteering and supporting education and Catholic programs in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. She has held leadership positions at Catholic Charities, St. Andrew’s School, Catholic Central High School and St. Mary’s Hospital. She brought her business acumen to the Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Finance Council and serves on the boards of the United Way, the Fredrick Meijer Gardens Foundation and the Foundation for Catholic Education.
The Kennedys have been honored many times for their community work, including by the University, which named them Spirit of Detroit Mercy Alumni Achievement Award recipients in 2015. They continue to fund educational and Catholic institutions through the John and Nancy Kennedy Family Foundation and Mrs. Kennedy is especially proud of the way the couple’s four grown children have followed in their footsteps, devoting their time and talents in service of their communities.
In recognition of her success in business, and her dedication as a volunteer and philanthropist, University of Detroit Mercy is honored to present Nancy Greening Kennedy with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. Commencement, University of Detroit Mercy, McNichols Campus, May 12, 2018.