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In Memoriam: Robert Kennedy 1958 - 2018
Elisabeth Szewczyk-Méziane, Lecturer of English, Foundation Program
This past year, our former
Head of the English Depart-
ment (HoD), Robert Kennedy,
would have turned 61. While to
his colleagues he was simply
Bob, to his students, he was
always “Mr. Bob”. After com-
pleting an MA in Educational
Leadership, Bob became a
dedicated and life-long educa-
tor.
In 1988, Bob joined the recent-
ly established English Lan-
guage Teaching Unit (ELTU) as
one of the very first American
language instructors. He left a
few years later and returned in
1994.
In the autumn of 2004, the
Foundation Program (FP) was
inaugurated. The Foundation
Program Department of English
(FPDE) offered a two-year, four
-level skills-based general Eng-
lish language program. A year
later, Bob was appointed as-
sistant to Dr. Madani Osman.
In the autumn of 2006, Bob
replaced Dr. Madani as the
HoD.
Bob was the HoD of FPDE for
six years, from 2006 to 2012. A
staunch advocate of new tech-
nology, he encouraged every-
one to explore its potential and
was the main backer of Black-
board, which had been piloted
and pioneered by FPDE in
2005. During Bob’s tenure as
HoD, the program changed
several times, yet the transition
was always smooth and seam-
less.
While Bob helmed the depart-
ment, there were some notable
high points, for example, the
Commission on English Lan-
guage Accreditation (CEA) and
the establishment of The Writ-
ing Centre as well as various
student clubs like The Japa-
nese Club and The Photog-
raphy Club. In the autumn of
2012, when the FP changed to
a one-year program, Bob
stepped down as the HoD.
However, in his new/old role,
Bob remained a committed
teacher, colleague and friend
to many.
And so, it was with great sad-
ness that Bob Kennedy, our
respected, pragmatic, and stal-
wart former HoD, colleague,
friend, and mentor passed
away on 25 February 2018. For
close to half of his life, Bob had
lived in Qatar: he was very
much attached to this spectac-
ular desert land, its people, his
students, and QU. Qatar was
home to him. Many of those he
left behind will always remem-
ber his generosity, wit, and
thoughtfulness. Bob left his
mark in the hearts and minds
of those who knew him best.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Bob.
“Many of those he left behind will always remember his
generosity, wit, and thoughtfulness.”
Robert Kennedy: Photograph courtesy of Stephanie Barbara Pinnacle