Courtney McKenna

Courtney McKenna serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she provides executive leadership for the University’s efforts to advance student success, engagement, wellbeing, and belonging. She leads a comprehensive Student Affairs portfolio encompassing the Dean of Students Office, Athletics, Health and Wellbeing, Housing and Residential Education, Student Engagement, Student Conduct and Restorative Practices, and Fitness and Recreation.

Since joining Wentworth in 2019, Courtney has held progressively senior leadership roles spanning strategy and policy, organization development, and student affairs. She was appointed Vice President for Student Affairs in 2023 after serving as Interim Vice President beginning in 2022. Across these roles, her work has focused on complex, institution-wide challenges requiring collaboration across organizational boundaries and the alignment of people, systems, resources, and strategy around the student experience.

Courtney’s leadership is grounded in the belief that exceptional student experiences are not created by any one office or program, but by institutions intentionally designing their cultures, systems, structures, and services around the needs and success of students. Her approach combines student-centered leadership with organization development and systems thinking, bringing together partners across the institution to strengthen the student experience and create sustainable organizational change.

Prior to joining Wentworth, Courtney served as Director of Student Affairs and an adjunct faculty member at Quinnipiac University. Her higher education career includes experience across public and private institutions and a broad range of areas including student success and academic advising, student engagement and leadership, student conduct, behavioral intervention and threat assessment, case management, prevention and wellness education, strategy and policy, and organization development.

Courtney earned bachelor’s degrees in Communication Studies and French and a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies: College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island. She is completing her Ph.D. in Organization Development and Change at Sacred Heart University, where her research examines how Chief Student Affairs Officers navigate post-pandemic workforce challenges in Student Affairs.