John S. Kendall was a distinguished psychology professor and the twelfth president of Gustavus Adolphus College. He taught at the College for 30 years and also served several terms as psychology department chair. In 1973 he received Gustavus' highest teaching honor, the Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching. He was named the College's 12th president in 1981 and served until 1991. Throughout his life he was an active consultant or board member for numerous organizations. He was a consulting clinical psychologist for the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare for nearly two decades, a longtime panelist with the National Science Foundation, a member of the board of directors for Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota for many years, and a commissioner for the North Central Association (a major higher education accrediting body in the Midwest).