Ben Kennedy

Benjamin C. Kennedy (he/him) is a transgender author, educator, and activist who grew up in rural Maryland and later received his B.S. and M.Ed. from the University of Vermont. He is currently pursuing a PhD education studies at UC San Diego, where his work focuses on equity policy, international education comparison, and helping educators to create queer and trans affirming curriculum and classrooms. He is a national facilitator with Welcoming Schools, a Board Member for Trans Youth Liberation, and a youth mentor at San Diego Pride. Ben has collaborated with the National Center for Transgender Equality, Planned Parenthood, Gender Odyssey, Bernie Sanders' office, and other organizations, and is published in diverse outlets including multiple books, several academic journals, HuffPost, NPR, and more. He is a Competitive Edge Fellow, Kroner Fellow, and participated in the Hunter-Simes Institute in Sexuality Studies Fellowship in Sydney, Australia. Ben and his wife Becca have three cats, a three-legged pitbull, and a rotating crew of foster animals including over 200 neonatal kittens and orphaned wildlife. Together, they are passionate about good food, good music, and being good to others.