Kenneth T. and Maria Cann

Dr. Kenneth Thomas Cann was born to Gladys Harpell and Kenneth Wilkins Cann. The New York native was a World War II Army veteran, where he served in the European Theatre of Operations in the 70th Division of the 1/274th Infantry. Kenneth had a prolific career as an educator, leader, and photographer. At WKU, he served as the head of the economics department and director of the Center for Latin American Studies. He was a faculty member of Indiana University Southern Campus, associated with the Land Tenure Center of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a prize-winning photographer. He did field work for two years in Porto Alegre, Brazil, served in Indonesia, and worked for the Organization of American States in Chile.

Kenneth was also active in his community as president of the Southern Kentucky Photography Club and member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the American Economics Association, and Christ United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was married to Maria Nilda Jordao Cann until his passing on August 30, 2000, at the age of 74. They had one child, Laura Aitken.

To further give back to the university, Kenneth and Maria established the Kenneth T. and Maria Cann Scholarship Fund in 1981. The fund assists WKU students who are pursuing a degree in economics. Through this fund, Kenneth and Maria’s legacies live on in perpetuity.