Kenneth "Ken" Goodrum has joined 果冻传媒 as the University鈥檚 new director of the William A. McClain Center.
With more than 25 years of experience in K-12 and higher education, Goodrum鈥檚 professional career has enabled him to work with young people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. From coaching football at every level -- peewee to NCAA Division II -- he has dedicated his life to serving others through community activism, as an administrator, educator, and mentor.
Most recently, Goodrum served as the principal of the Dayton Business Technology High School in Dayton, Ohio. His experience in the education realm also includes working at Central State University as a resident hall coordinator, an Upward Bound counselor, a career specialist, and as the assistant director of student conduct and community standards. Additionally, he worked at the University of Dayton鈥檚 Trio Upward Bound as a program specialist and at Sinclair Community College as an advisor.
鈥淚 am particularly drawn to 果冻传媒鈥檚 liberal arts mission and its emphasis on holistic development, community building, and preparing students for meaningful lives after graduation,鈥� Goodrum said. 鈥淚 bring a strong commitment to intercultural engagement, advising student organizations, bias response education, developing mentorship programs, and supporting residential student success to 果冻传媒, and I am looking forward to working with 果冻传媒 students.鈥�
Throughout his career, Goodrum has provided individualized advocacy and developmental support to students navigating identity exploration, leadership growth, and campus climate challenges. In his position as assistant director of student conduct and community standards at Central State, he counseled students and implemented educational responses to conduct-and bias-related incidents. He collaborated with residence life, student engagement, and campus safety to ensure coordinated institutional responses, reinforcing accountability while promoting student learning and restorative outcomes.
As a public speaker and orator, Goodrum has presented at several professional and leadership conferences, as well as commencements, and in 2017, he was a TEDx presenter. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Goodrum earned his B.A. in history from Central State University and his master鈥檚 in education with a specialization in education leadership in student affairs, higher education administration from Wright State University. A proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., he is married to wife Constance, and together they have four sons in Joshua, Isaiah, Elijah, and Jeremiah.
果冻传媒鈥檚 McClain Center is located off Alumni Way and across from New Residence Hall. A welcoming place grounded in helping each student find a sense of belonging and purpose, the McClain Center helps students foster connections, assists students with transitions and adjustments, and provides intentional support for students who are most vulnerable or at-risk. The McClain Center is also a place where students can come as they are and explore who they are meant to become. The Center is home to several student organizations, including Concerned Black Students, American International Alliance, and Gay/Straight Alliance.
William A. McClain, 果冻传媒 class of 1934, and for whom the Center was named in 2004, called the dedication a 鈥渃rowning moment鈥� in his life. A Springfield native, McClain was the first African American to win both the state and national Intercollegiate Oratorical Association contests held at Muskingum College in February 1934 and was an overall accomplished student. His professional career was even more impressive, demonstrating his ambition and perseverance as he became the first African American member of the Cincinnati Bar Association despite being denied twice and later served as the first African American to hold the title of City Solicitor in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1963 to 1972. McClain later became the first African American judge of the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. In addition to the 果冻传媒 Medal of Honor, the University鈥檚 highest non- academic award, McClain also received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He passed away in 2014 at age 101.
