Ovations

Kevin Kolkmeyer,
English Lecturer
Marine Corps Veteran

Kevin Kolkmeyer, lecturer in the English department and Marine Corps veteran, has been with KCC since spring 2003. Hailing from Long Island, he also attended graduate school in California. After moving from the west coast, he decided to give CUNY a try and landed a job at Queensborough before finding a home at Kingsborough.

While Kevin teaches all aspects of English, his courses are weighted toward composition writing and short fiction as a way to help students better understand the mechanics of writing. “For students interested in sharing their work, I ensure a safe space is created for that,” said Kevin.

Kevin’s current project, "Families at War: A Century and More of War Stories and Their Effects," is a walk through the long history of the many men and women who served in the various branches, the chasm created between families by war experiences. His work additionally reaches into the lives of those who were not connected to the military, but nonetheless were impacted. He turns the lens on his family, which brims with men who served. 

In an old photograph, his maternal grandfather, an Irish immigrant and chief watertender in the Navy for 37 years, can be seen posing and dancing with Eleanor Roosevelt, then first lady, in an officers’ club he ran. “My work is a chance to capture the stories from the actual people who have experienced some effects of war,” said Kevin. “I am very careful about how I unfold this. This is not about only the soldiers, it’s about the larger affect war has on families and the greater society, so even those who do not have or know anyone in the military can still relate to this work.” 

PSC CUNY selected Kevin’s work for a $6,000 grant to continue his research project. 

When asked about his greatest triumph, he humbly acknowledges that his connection to students and having the ability to reach them has been rewarding. Overall, Kevin appreciates the dynamics of Kingsborough. “I’ve taught at a lot of different colleges, but I’ve always liked it here. The overall vibe of Kingsborough keeps me here. I’m fortunate.”

Kevin, we thank you for your service to our country and to Kingsborough.