Urging understanding
Dexter Kennedy ’26 leaves his mark on the campus and the hearts of its community.
Photography by Jaquan Alston
Dexter Kennedy ’26 promises that every conversation he’s had at Lafayette has been meaningful to him—and he’s had many. A psychology and art history double major, Kennedy originally came to Lafayette planning to be a therapist. Instead, he found a new path—one that builds on his talent for forging connections. A wheelchair user, Kennedy has used his time in college to advocate for accessibility and disability awareness at home and abroad, while also getting fully immersed in campus life. From investing in the international student community and embracing new experiences in Salsa Club, to performing on stage with the Chorduroys and so much more, Kennedy can now add one more accomplishment to his list from Lafayette: 2026 George Wharton Pepper Prize winner.
How does it feel to be chosen by your community for the Pepper Prize?
It signifies that I’ve had some sort of impact while I’m here. I think it’s really gratifying to feel a number of students have recognized me both as an individual and for the work I’ve done in different spaces. So many people just need to be listened to. And I try to be the person who listens to them and talks through things. The impact of this isn’t very easy to concretely see, but that’s where it’s felt the most.
Can you talk about your time at Lafayette, and why you got so involved with so many student groups once you arrived on campus?
I was paralyzed in 2021 by a diving accident. I took a year off to learn about care services and to start figuring out my body. It was a really deep year of isolation, because all my friends had graduated high school and then had moved on to college. So when I got to Lafayette and had the opportunity to try and feel like my old self again, I ran with it 100 percent. I found the people who cared about me, had passion or interest in different subjects, and it spiraled in the best way possible. I think that’s part of the reason I got the Pepper Prize: I have really tried to maximize my time here.
How did you personally approach living on campus and its accessibility?
During my first semester, I felt like accessibility just didn’t have to be so hard. And that’s when I emailed President Nicole Hurd, asking, ‘Can I set up a meeting with you to discuss my experience on this campus as a disabled student? Because a lot of things are difficult here.’ I had a wonderful conversation with her. And we started to do regular check-ins, and we started doing evaluations with Facilities. Eventually, ramps were added to places like South College, we added door openers to a number of buildings, and we identified some troublesome paths across campus that were either leveled or repaved. I didn’t end up getting elevators put in every building, but there’s been a lot of steps toward socialization and trying to move forward.
How else did you increase awareness for people with disabilities?
Generally, the impact of my work is really just one-on-one conversations. I’m very open about my disability. I think a lot of people haven’t encountered young people in wheelchairs yet and don’t really know how to feel about things. I’ve seen a lot of attitude changes in my time.
You’re moving on to pursue a master’s degree in international education at New York University. What else do you want to do in your career?
I would love to work in higher education. I’m a pretty big proponent of college. Lafayette’s ability to help me study abroad twice was major. I was in London and Amsterdam, and I went to a couple of different cities during that time. I think it was a big moment of ‘OK, if I can [navigate] this foreign city, I can figure out New York.’ I’m hoping to have more opportunities to travel the world, hopefully study abroad again in grad school, and be able to promote disability access within different countries. I want to be a world traveler and a world connector, both in New York City and abroad.
What do you want to say to your fellow students, either the ones you’ve graduated with or to prospective students who are coming to Lafayette?
My advice would be take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you and put yourself in uncomfortable situations to grow. Truly feeling comfortable is one of the most incredible feelings in life that we can attain. This means putting yourself out there, trying different things, and giving things a shot that you might not know about. Be confident enough and open enough to learn and to be exposed to the new. And, finally, let others guide you: I have been able to make as much progress as I have through the mentors and friends I’ve had in my life—they’re the reason I’m able to be where I am.
