Alex Kenney was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania with his two siblings, mother and father. Both him and his siblings competed at Division 1 schools for their varying sports. Growing up, Kenney was an athletic kid in every regard, setting state records in track and field and pursuing an athletic career at Penn State and UMass before training and trialing for the Canadian Football League. When his football career fell through, Kenney shifted his priorities to academics and helping others. Kenny now works with athletes transitioning their collegiate sporting careers and making it in the real world. While at UMass, he completed his masters degree in higher education. This is where he developed a passion for education and helping those who went through the similar struggles that he did leaving collegiate sports. Additionally, he works at Upward Bound as a counselor helping and motivating high school kids in the local area to attend college and pursue further education. Kenney has placed an emphasis on attaining his PhD in psychology, thus allowing him to become a psychologist at a college, specifically, in the athletic department so that he would be able to help athletes with performance and transitioning afterward.
Alex Kenney poses with a photo of himself as a Penn State Footballer on December 6, 2016. Kenney frequently reflects on his past to use it as motivation to help other student athletes with their transition post athletics. (Photo by Sam Reiser)
Alex Kenney completes a set of push ups. Kenney believes that physical exercise has a lot to do with maintaining good mental health hence, why he includes in in part of his daily routines. December 6, 2016. (Photo by Sam Reiser)
Kenney makes use of a chin up bar mounted to the bathroom door. He talked a lot about making use of the multitude of facilities that he had access to during his time at Penn State and UMass and how it only since leaving he realized what great opportunities he had. December 6, 2016. (Photo by Sam Reiser)
Kenney meets with Xavier Smith. Smith is a current sprinter for Penn State and was coached by Kenney during his sophomore year, a year in which he set school records in the 60m and 4x200. (Photo by Sam Reiser)
Alex Kenney explains to Xavier Smith the importance of learning from your mistakes. One of his favorite sayings is "Flip that L, flip that loss." Kenney goes on to talk about all the positives that you should take from negative situation. A lesson he frequently uses with his Upward Bound kids too. December 4, 2016. (Photo by Sam Reiser)
Alex Kenney reflects on his days work outside his house usually. He comments about how nice the stars usually look on a clear night hence why he likes to sit out there. Kenney often likes a moment on solitude after working with people all day, he says it gives him the time needed to think about how to better himself based off what other people have taught him, despite, him counseling them. (Photo by Sam Reiser)