Kathleen Virginia Hoover-Dempsey, 82, passed away on March 24, 2025. She joined Peabody College in 1973 as professor of psychology and retired in 2013 as professor of psychology, emerita. During her career, she served several years as chair of the Department of Psychology and Human Development and as director of graduate studies.
An admired psychologist, Hoover-Dempsey worked at the intersection of family and school life and was deeply concerned with parental involvement in education and children's learning. Through her research she sought to develop a model to help under-served families become involved in their children's education. She also co-authored a book, Working Up a Storm: Anger, Anxiety, Joy, and Tears on the Job, that focuses on emotions in the workplace.
In 1999 Hoover-Dempsey was awarded the Chancellor's Cup in recognition of her devotion to her students. At one point in her career, she was the advisee for 45 undergraduate students in addition to her graduate students-well above the normal advisee workload for faculty. She was known for meticulously mentoring students and setting them up for success throughout their lives.
"Kathy's devotion to her students was an inspiration to us all at Peabody. As a natural teacher, she taught students so much more than the curriculum or skills they needed to develop. She helped them realize their self-worth and gave them the confidence to succeed at Vanderbilt and beyond," said Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development.
Hoover-Dempsey earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. At UC Berkeley, she and her college roommate had the distinction of being the first to racially integrate student housing there in the 1960s.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, she taught kindergarten for a year in Oakland, California, and traveled around the world. She was detained at Checkpoint Charlie after visiting East Germany and lived in Uganda for a year, working to improve the lives of women and children.
Hoover-Dempsey was married to Randy Hoover-Dempsey, an elementary school teacher at the University School of Nashville. Later in their marriage, he became an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Tennessee. The couple served at several churches in Nashville and in surrounding areas.
Hoover-Dempsey was born to Kay Rider and Burton Hoover on November 13, 1942. She was the eldest of four children. She is survived by her spouse, Randy Hoover-Dempsey, and their children, Joshua Hoover-Dempsey (Lindsay), Jesse Duprel (Alex), and Jordan Cooper (Jerry), as well as their grandchildren, Max, Meyer, Mills, Mia (Josh and Lin); Tyler and Emma (Jesse and Al); and Jackson and Claire (Jordan and BOJ).
The family held a service for Hoover-Dempsey on Saturday, March 29, at St. James the Less Episcopal Church. Donations may be made in her honor to Abe's Garden Memory Care.
