About Me

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

—Maya Angelou (1928–2014. acclaimed American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Her work celebrates resilience, identity, and the transformational power of the human spirit.

Reinvention is the name of my game. I started playing it on January 1, 2023. So far, it’s going exceedingly well.

One of my goals was to focus on writing, research, and publication. So far, I’ve published four books, with another one coming out in September.

Three of the books are collections of creative nonfiction essays, published by Luminare Press as part of my The Wired Researcher Series.

  1. In Bed: My Year of Foolin’ Around (2023)
  2. More Wit and Wisdom: Another Year of Foolin’ Around (2024)
  3. The Third Time’s the Charm: Still Foolin’ Around in Bed (2025)

All three books are made up of essays that stretch out luxuriously across the page—just like I do in bed where I write them at night before going to sleep. You’ll find reflections on Appalachian roots, gardening epiphanies, dust bunnies with existential leanings, and the joys and absurdities of online dating (from a seasoned gay man who knows a good profile pic from a trap). Whether I’m flirting with mortality, rethinking masculinity, or making peace with the past while pruning tomatoes, each piece is steeped in humor, heart, and the unapologetic embrace of a life lived authentically—and fabulously.

The fourth book is my edition of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s Green Mountain Stories (Onion River, 2023). Published originally as A Humble Romance and Other Stories (1887), now, 136 years later, the collection has been published under its intended title: Green Mountain Stories, with an extensive critical commentary providing the intriguing backstory. This publication anchors Freeman solidly, unequivocally, and forever to Vermont-The Green Mountain State-where she launched her acclaimed literary career. Vermont can now claim Freeman as its own, just as exclusively as Freeman claimed Vermont as her own, from the start of her career until the end. The publication marks the beginning of Freeman’s journey back home to Vermont.

Currently I’m fast-pacing my Dolly: Life and Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Volume I: The New England Years (1852-1901). Volume II: The New Jersey Years (1902-1930). The two volumes update and expand my The Infant Sphinx: Collected Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (Scarecrow: 1985).

That leaves another really exciting book that’s coming out this fall. Unmasking The Humourist: Alexander Gordon’s Lost Essays of Colonial Charleston, South Carolina will be available in September. It’s a definitive edition that not only reveals The Humourist’s true identity but also presents his essays in full, with critical commentary, historical context, and meticulous annotations. This is not just a rediscovery; it is a restoration of one of the most significant but overlooked literary voices of Colonial America.

Before I started my most recent reinvention, I was Professor of English at Laurel Ridge Community College (formerly Lord Fairfax Community College) in Middletown, VA. Between 1999 and 2023, I taught more than 7,000 students in a wide variety of English courses: American Literature. Major American Writers. Southern Literature. Appalachian Literature. Virginia Writers. Creative Writing. College Composition. Technical Writing. Memoir Writing. Developmental English.

My students applauded my enthusiastic, passionate, and energetic teaching style. One commented, “Dr. Kendrick could excite a stone to write.” Another said, “He is emotionally attached to his subject, and it shows all over his face. This makes me want to learn more and achieve the same happiness I see in him.”

I was involved extensively in the Virginia Community College System’s redesign of developmental education. I was a member of the Developmental Math Redesign Team; a member of the Developmental English Redesign Team, serving as chair of the Structure Subcommittee; co-chair of the Developmental English Curriculum Team; co-chair of the Developmental English Campus Implementation Leads; and a member of the Virginia Placement Team-English.

In 2008, the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) named me one of the top twelve educators in the Commonwealth, the highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities. In 2010, I was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence. In 2012, I was awarded a Chancellor’s Faculty Professorship for 2012-2014. In 2016, I received the first Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence.

Before joining the faculty at Laurel Ridge Community College, I worked for a quarter of a century at The Library of Congress and received that institution’s highest award for Distinguished Service.

My dad was a West Virginia coal miner; my mother, a Pilgrim Holiness minister during my early childhood years. As the first in my family to go to college, I am a testament to the transformative power of education. I earned my B.A. (cum laude) at Alderson- Broaddus University (Philippi, WV) and my Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina.

20 thoughts on “About Me”

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  9. I was looking for some blank paper and picked up an old ruled notebook from my LFCC classes. All the course subjects had been torn out long ago…except yours. I reviewed my entire Eng Lit course notes, where I came across one of my very favorite quotes.
    “It is very easy to string intelligent words together to say how things should be done. The hard part is to live by those words.”
    BRENT KENDRICK
    October 30, 2002
    0920
    A timeless, and universal quote that I have used more than once.
    You were instrumental in my success as a published (PAID- rare for us) RN writer, and I thank you for it.
    Like you, I am also retired after a glorious 45 year career.
    I wish you all good things.

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    • Pat,

      I can’t begin to tell you what a joy it is to hear from you after all these years!

      It goes without saying that I am thrilled that you kept my comment and that it is immortalized here!

      More, however, I am so pleased that the comment has meant so much to you down through the years.

      You may not believe it, but I remember you well. Here’s proof! You were in my ENG 241 class–Survey of American Literature I. You will recall, I am sure, when we were discussing the friction between John Winthrop and Anne Hutchinson. We were reading a passage from his journal where he commented that “She brought forth not one, but thirty monstrous births or thereabouts.”

      I challenged the class to find out the medical name of her condition. Either on the spot or at our next class meeting, you informed us that her condition was a rare one called a HIDATIDIFORM MOLE. Year after year I have credited you! I am so glad to have the opportunity to thank you once again!

      I am so happy that you are paid and published! Bravo!

      Thanks, Pat, for reaching out to me as you have done. It has made my day! Be blessed!

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  10. Congrats on the books; I am so happy you are keeping busy, but I am in VT now and I would have loved to see you so I am happy I found your blog. Now at least I get to see the wonderful things you are doing.

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  11. Congratulations on all your accomplishments since leaving the Library of Congress. Believe it or not, I’m still working here and I’ve been asked to give a presentation on the Pre-56 Imprints which are now shelved in dark corners of the stacks. Do you still have copies or ‘a copy’ of your training manual? I kept it for years and suddenly I’m unable to find it. There is renewed interest in the Pre-56. All the best, Nanette Gibbs ngib@loc.gov

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    • Nanette,

      What a joy it is to hear from you after all these years!

      How blessed we were to be part of the NUCPP, Pre-1956 Imprints, indeed the bibliographical wonder of the world!

      I’m not sure whether I kept the training manual. I’ll look in my files and get back to you in a day or two.

      Again, your message has made my day!

      With fond memories–

      Brent

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      • You were definitely the gold standard and I’ll always remember how patient you were with me. I went on to use these skills often in defense of the due diligence one must dedicate themselves to with intended goal that we identify the best cataloging. I often teach in 139B Jefferson and the room remains the same although there are large tv monitors in there, desks, etc. I’m now in the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division after several years in CRS, Business and 22 years teaching IB and AP classes when I left the Library so I could have the same schedule when both of our children, Diana and Thomas were in school. I returned about 8 years ago! Diana also works at the Library and Thomas is with the Gary Sinise Foundation helping veterans and their families. You can google both of them.

        Thank you for reconnecting with me.

        Nanette

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      • Good morning, Nanette!

        “The gold standard.” What a compliment you pay me. Thank you so much. I agree: I continue to use the skills that I learned then as well, and I have quite the reputation for being the demon researcher. If it’s out there, I will find it!

        You have had a wonderful career path, and I salute you. Also, you must be incredibly proud of Diana and Thomas! I think it’s wonderful that you are back at the Library. I wish I had known. You might have been able to attend my talk in Rare Books back in April! The Library of Congress will always hold a special place in my heart.

        I have looked and looked, but I cannot find the training manual. No doubt, it is squirreled away in a box somewhere, especially since I keep everything. If I find it, I will let you know!

        Again, it’s great to hear from you!

        Best–

        Brent

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      • Dear Brent,
        I’m actually afraid to go up to the 5th floor of our house to look for the manual. I’ll give it a try today as it is cooler (it’s the only room where we have never been able to cool). I can’t believe you were here in April. I’m in the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division just down the hall. Both John and I would have come running!
        Please stay in touch and I know John would enjoy seeing you again. Bye the way, Diana has worked at the Library for 18 years! I think you would enjoy her website: http://www.the-harpist.comhttp://www.the-harpist.com
        All the best,
        Nanette

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      • Hi, Nanette!

        Diana is incredibly talented, and in her, I see you from years ago!

        Good luck finding the manual. If I find mine, I’ll let you know!

        I hope that you stay in touch as well. Follow my blog! Also, here’s my email: brentlkendrick@gmail.com

        All the best to you and John and your children–

        Brent

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