Preparing for Purpose: How William Penn University Shaped the Journey of Dr. Keegan J. VanDevender

01/22/2026

For Dr. Keegan J. VanDevender, PhD (B.A., ’18), the path to a life of service, leadership, and scholarship began with a moment of clarity that came almost instantly upon stepping onto William Penn University’s campus. After spending his first year of college elsewhere and returning from a formative year as an international student in French-speaking Belgium, VanDevender found himself at a crossroads.

“I transferred to William Penn University after my first year of college at another institution,” he shared. “Upon my return, I was torn between preparing for a career in the health/medical sciences or becoming a teacher.” During that year of exploration, he struggled to feel connected to the larger campus community. “So, I transferred to WPU. I completed a campus tour, and immediately felt that Penn was the right choice for me.”

That sense of belonging became foundational to his experience, especially as a lifelong member of the Oskaloosa community. While attending college in his hometown was not a deciding factor, it proved meaningful. “It was a blessing to become a part of yet another facet of the Oskaloosa community,” he said. As a student in the education program, he also gained invaluable experience working alongside local educators. “I also was blessed to have been able to grow as a teacher in the school system and the gifted teachers that had fostered the spark to become an educator myself.”

One of the most defining moments of VanDevender’s time at William Penn came early in his academic career, when coursework moved beyond theory and into lived experience. “One of the greatest turning points, for me, was stepping into my first field experience as a part of an introductory course in the education program,” he explained. “It is where I could finally see how theory… becomes practice… These early experiences were confirming, yes, teaching is what I am meant to do.”

Mentorship played a central role in that growth. While many faculty members influenced his development, VanDevender points to his advisor and major professor, Dr. Jared Pearce, as especially impactful. Reflecting on Pearce’s approach, he noted the importance of rigor paired with encouragement. “Dr. Pearce’s personability and wit, alongside his dedication to a rigor that prepares students for whatever upcoming journey they may themselves on… is something I often reflect on and is an experience for which I give thanks.”

Leadership opportunities at William Penn further shaped his confidence and sense of purpose. Although he did not initially see himself as a leader, faculty and mentors saw potential he had yet to recognize. “I found it odd that someone saw a leadership potential that I had not yet discovered within myself,” he admitted. Saying yes to opportunities such as serving as Vice President of the WPU Education Club and founding editor of the William Penn University Interdisciplinary Honors Journal: Cadendo proved transformative. “Both of these experiences provided autonomy while also building a multitude of collaborative leadership skills.”

Following graduation, VanDevender’s career unfolded through a series of meaningful educational roles across Iowa, each contributing to his growth as an educator and leader. Ultimately, those experiences brought him back home. “As an OSCD alumnus, I had always wanted to one day return to teach in the community that fostered that passion that I live out each day,” he said. Today, he serves as Student Success Coach and Student Council Sponsor at Oskaloosa Middle School, after previously teaching English and Language Arts in the same district.

Walking the halls now as a mentor and leader carries deep significance. “There are days in which my students remind me that the number of years… I walked the halls of Oskaloosa Middle School as a student, are greater than their respective ages,” he reflected. Yet the transition feels natural. “Coming home, in this sense, makes me feel as if I have never left.”

VanDevender’s commitment to growth led him to pursue advanced degrees, culminating in a PhD in Educational Leadership from Drake University. Balancing full-time work with graduate study required perseverance, but he embraced the challenge. “The mantra, ‘I can do hard things,’ is really what kept me going,” he said. His doctoral journey reshaped how he approaches leadership and problem-solving, equipping him with skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Despite his many accomplishments, William Penn University remains a meaningful part of his present, not just his past. “I am blessed to continue to remain a part of the William Penn University community in an adjunct capacity in the Education Division’s Distance Learning program,” he shared, noting the joy of connecting with students who share his alma mater.

When asked what advice he would give to students considering William Penn, particularly those drawn to education, his response is clear. “Do it!” he said. “William Penn University’s Education Division… will help you find your place in and develop your passion for the field of education.”

Through his journey, Dr. Keegan J. VanDevender exemplifies how William Penn University prepares students not only for their first job, but for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service.