Vanessa Hammler Kenon, Ed.D.
Dr. Kenon serves at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in University Technology Solutions. She serves on several UTSA committees and organizations in support of student, faculty and staff retention, audit, accessibility, esports, community engagement, academic research, and technology. Kenon also served as the Bill and Melinda Gates iPASS PI for UTSA and serves on several Boards, Committees, Professional Development and Task Force efforts for AERA, EDUCAUSE, RTM, Google, and TASSCC. Dr. Kenon also served as the EDUCAUSE Program Chair for the 2024 Annual Meeting and in 2026 was named by EdTech Magazine as one of the "25 Higher Ed Influencers to Follow in 2026." She was also named one of the first Google Higher Education Fellows in 2026.
She earned undergraduate degrees in Communications and English at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and served on both the San Antonio and National Alumni Board of Directors for Trinity as well as the Trinity University Board of Visitors. She has also served on academic advisory committees and boards across the San Antonio Community. She served on committees for the San Antonio Area United Way for over a decade and continues to serve United Way at UTSA as a part of the SECC campaign. Dr. Kenon has worked in higher education positions of technology, instruction, and leadership in private and public education for over 30 years.
Current student initiatives include the UTSA University Technology Solutions Bold Careers Interns and Ambassadors Program, UTSA Roadrunner Gaming, the UTS Student Technology Council, ServiceNow University and partnership with The University of Texas System. Kenon works supporting multiple school districts' technology initiatives in the San Antonio Area, including service on the Northside ISD NSITE Community Board.
Dr. Kenon completed her master's degree in Adult and Higher Education as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership at UTSA and received a COEHD Outstanding Alumna Award in 2018. Her research areas include technology initiatives in education around global workplace education and partnerships, experiential learning, esports and gaming in education and workspaces, collaborative digital learning spaces, technology mobility and innovation, and student success. She teaches and mentors students and interns surrounding educational technology, esports and gaming, media, research methods, and professional development. She is well published and cited and has presented research worldwide.