Dr. Ken Perkins

In a video tribute honoring Dr. Ken Perkins at the 2024 Alumni Awards dinner, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith lightheartedly joked about the lengthy list of professional titles he accumulated during his 39-year career at Longwood. But beyond the plethora of hats Perkins wore as a teacher, scholar and administrator, Smith noted his loyalty and devotion to Longwood.

“Only alumni love Longwood more than Ken does,” Smith said. “So it’s fitting that he is the recipient of the Honorary Alumni Award.”

The Honorary Alumni Award is presented to individuals who are not alumni but who have given extraordinary service to the university and who, through their deeds and actions, reflect the values of a true citizen leader. A native of rural middle Georgia, Perkins arrived at Longwood as an assistant professor of sociology in 1984.

Over nearly 40 years, his roles have included chair of two departments, interim vice president for academic affairs, vice president for academic affairs, and director of development for academic priorities and provost emeritus. He also served as acting president for a short stint in 2012.

Perkins earned degrees from Middle Georgia College, Valdosta State University and Virginia Tech and briefly taught at Radford University. But he considers Longwood home.

“Longwood is the only place that I have ever thought of as my alma mater.

That’s the feeling I’ve had for decades,” Perkins said, adding that the alumni award is among the greatest honors he has ever received.

Perkins retired in 2023, but he continues to support the university and its mission in myriad ways, including through the Kenneth B. Perkins and Marie Hoge-Perkins Scholarship, which was established in 2022. In his remarks at the awards dinner, Perkins acknowledged several people who were key figures along his career path at Longwood: Peggy Golubic, Dr. Don Stuart,

Dr. Frieda McCombs, Dr. Bill Frank and Dr. Carolyn Wells.

“Ken’s blood truly is Longwood blue,” said Courtney Hodges, vice president for institutional advancement. “He believes in, and dedicated his career to, our mission and our purpose of educating citizen leaders.”