Luther Kindall
Luther Kindall was a native of Nashville, TN. He graduated from Pearl High School and later from Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in Psychology. He finished with the highest academic average in his graduating class. He was consequently named, “Mr. Brains” of his senior class, and awarded the W.J. Hale Memorial Scholarship to pursue his Master’s Degree. After earning his Master’s, Luther was awarded the Southern Fellowship Scholarship to pursue his Doctorate in Educational Psychology. He received his degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. After being awarded his doctorate, Luther began a teaching career at Tennessee State University and also matriculated at Roane State, Brushy Mountain, and the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. His career at UTK spanned over twenty-eight years. During his extended status at the university, Luther made significant strides in the Psychology Deptartment, particularly with his dedicated focus on black students, faculty, and staff members. Largely through his leadership and guidance at UT, Luther became one of the founding members of the National Association of Black Psychologists.
As a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Tennessee, Luther intently focused his research on cognitive and affective learning styles, as he was determined to help promote an appreciation for differences and diversity. His interest in learning styles concurred with his own beliefs that there is no one way to learn, teach, instruct, or evaluate teachers or learners. He made several presentations at international and national conferences on school violence, conflict resolution, and the African American culture. He received several awards from the university, the Tennessee State Legislature, and other community organizations for service to UT, the state, and the local community. He also received the Outstanding Faculty of the Year award from the UT Panhellenic Council and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Kindall also received several awards for being a founding member of the UT Black Faculty and Staff Association, the UT Commission for Blacks, and the Ron McNair Summer Mentoring Program. Governor Lamar Alexander appointed Luther to serve on the Human Rights Commission for the State of Tennessee. Luther retired from UTK with Professor Emeritus status because of his years of distinguished service to the University. Luther Kindall has had many unique experiences in his life, but one of his most exciting adventures was when he ran for governor of Tennessee in 1982.