Shannon Kundey, Ph.D., Appointed Interim Dean of School of Behavioral and Health Sciences

FREDERICK, Md., — Hood College is proud to announce the appointment of Shannon Kundey, Ph.D., as the new interim dean of The Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences (SBHS). 

Kundey first joined Hood as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology in 2008, earning promotion to associate professor in 2014 and tenure in 2015. Kundey served as chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling from 2020 to 2023 and co-chaired the department during the 2023-24 academic year. Kundey has since served as chair of the Department of Psychology beginning fall 2025. She has also served as co-director of the Hood College Honors Program since December 2020.

Kundey’s career at Hood is defined by her passion and ability to connect with students via dynamic curricula, programs and learning experiences. Kundey’s courses are regularly updated to remain relevant and engaging, allowing students to discover their strengths as learners.

“My students continuously help me to grow both as an educator and a person, growth that I feel has prepared me well to take on the role as interim dean,” said Kundey. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow faculty members, community partners and, of course, my students, to ensure SBHS is a place where students feel empowered to achieve more than they thought was possible.”

“Shannon embodies what is so special about Hood. She is deeply committed to her discipline and passionate about helping students thrive,” said Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., president of Hood College. “She brings a clear understanding of SBHS and I’m confident she will provide thoughtful, student-centered leadership to the school.”

As interim dean, Kundey will oversee the development and implementation of programs within the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to health education and research. Her leadership will aim to advance the school’s mission in preparing graduates to support and advocate for the needs of diverse communities via the holistic study of health, healthcare and health informatics.

SBHS, founded in 2022, is home to Hood’s undergraduate nursing, psychology, public health, social work and sociology programs, as well as graduate programs in counseling, nutrition science and health informatics. The school is housed within a purpose-dedicated space in partnership with Frederick Health, containing specialized equipment, lab and lecture spaces. The founding of the school was made possible thanks to a major gift of $2.5 million from Hood alumna Ruth Whitaker Holmes ’55, H’93, Ph.D., and her husband G. Burtt Holmes, O.D.

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