Professor Stewart taught at Columbia College in 2000-2001 and at Eastern Kentucky University from 2001 until 2008.  While at EKU she served as Interim MPA Director and chaired a University wide Strategic Planning Committee.  She was recently elected President of the Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA).  Her teaching and research interests in include organizational behavior, leadership studies, administrative ethics, state government finance, program evaluation, strategic planning for non-profits, and women's studies.  She received her PhD and MPA degrees from the University of South Carolina and a B.A from the University of Central Florida. Between 1994 and 1998 Kendra worked for the South Carolina Budget and Control Board.

Previously, she has taught graduate courses in Public Sector Organization and Management, and Administrative Ethics and Public Policy.  She has taught a variety of undergraduate courses in American government, women's studies, and state and local politics.  She has several publications in public finance and urban affairs, two articles under review, several PS pieces on pedagogy.  She has an interest in civic participation issues, and several grants, the largest of which is an evaluation of a Heath Community Access Program.