Jenna Kurten ’00 ’14 ’19: Leading through listening
Professor and assistant dean creates a culture of belonging for students
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Leadership takes many forms. It’s taught in classrooms, discussed by CEOs and explored in podcasts, books and speeches. Nearly everyone has their own take on the topic.
But anyone who has met Jenna Kurten ’00 ’14 ’19, Ph.D., knows the best-kept leadership secret lives in the way she shows up for students in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, both as an instructional assistant professor in the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism and assistant dean for student success for the College.
Through thoughtful conversations, intentional questions and a gift for listening, Kurten guides teams toward meaningful goals, creates impact in the classroom and connects with students from all backgrounds.
She models leadership not from a stage, but in quiet, consistent moments of encouragement, support and understanding.
Her journey to assistant dean
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in industrial distribution, Kurten worked in the industry for a few years before returning to Texas A&M University.
“I came back to Texas A&M and was reminded how much I love education and people,” Kurten said. “I’ve always loved the study of people, groups and different success stories, so I ended up in a graduate program for anthropology and stuck around for a Ph.D. in anthropology as well.”
While studying for her degrees, Kurten was raising a family and working toward success across the university. Some of her roles focused on students and others revolved around programmatic success.
In 2019, she joined the College as the director of analytics, helping portray the Aggie core values through strategic, analytical approaches.
“When people hear assistant dean for student success, they sometimes think it’s very different from my former role as director of analytics,” Kurten said. “They’re actually very related. For us to know where we are serving our students best and how we can improve, we need evidence and data to show that.”
Kurten eventually transitioned into her current role, where she gets to connect more personally with students, offering a listening ear and embodying the genuine, caring leadership she’s known for.
Supporting student success
College is a challenging season for many students, and it’s important for them to feel understood and supported by faculty, peers and leaders. There’s not a one-size-fits-all way to accomplish such a daunting task, but Kurten’s method comes pretty close.
“My social science experience is so beneficial because our students all have very different backgrounds,” she said. “Their life experiences, perspectives and family environments all shape who they are. In my role, I have the privilege of supporting each student’s unique experience.”
As assistant dean for student success, this is what Kurten does every single day – and her efforts touch students’ lives in incredible ways.
“Dr. Kurten has a true heart for people and places,” said Nicole Pruski ’27, who participated in one of Kurten’s study abroad experiences. “She leads conversations in a way that challenges you while still making you feel seen and supported. She is an advocate and a cheerleader, and anyone who gets to experience her leadership and heart walks away better because of it.”
Countless other students have had similar experience with Kurten in the College. She connects with groups by first connecting with people.
“I’m really curious about every individual journey,” Kurten said. “It’s easy to think in terms of groups, but within each group are individual students with unique journeys and stories that deserve to be celebrated. I’m a better teacher when I know my students’ stories.”
How she views core values
Though Kurten spends her days embodying humble leadership, she’s an excellent example of all the Aggie core values – and she has deep, meaningful philosophies on the importance of these values.
“Our Aggie core values are guardrails for us in a world that often prioritizes self-promotion,” Kurten said. “They keep us focused on goals in a way that doesn’t sacrifice the ‘how’ of what we do.”
Anyone who has experienced Kurten’s leadership can attest to how she embodies her own guiding values. Her wisdom, kindness and consistent support reflect her inner morals and belief in the best in others.
“We hear a lot of negative stories, but I choose to believe that people are good,” Kurten said. “It helps that I see good every day with our students. They will go on to transform the world, and I want each of them to walk across that stage on graduation day believing in their ability to impact their sphere of influence for good.”
The College is fortunate to have Kurten, who devotes her days to learning, practicing and living the art of kind, authentic leadership.
The next time you’re looking to learn about leadership, pause the motivational speeches, close the books and sit down for a conversation with Kurten – you won’t regret it.
