[6][7] Speaking of Kington's tenure at the agency, Senator Tom Harkin praised his leadership for judiciously allocating $10 billion in congressionally-approved funds, implementing then president Obama's Executive Order on human embryonic stem cell research, and strengthening conflict of interest regulations.

[11] He strengthened ties to the city of Grinnell, in part by promoting a Zone of Confluence in which the campus and downtown areas work on joint redevelopment projects.

[14] Along with 350 college presidents, he signed a joint letter urging Congress to pass greater gun control measures.

[15] After Donald Trump was elected, he signed a letter along with 109 other college presidents, to urge the president-elect to take a more forceful stand against harassment, hate and acts of violence.

[16] In addition, Kington established a fund to spur innovation, oversaw the allocation of $140 million for campus buildings, and promoted ties to the city of Grinnell through investment programs.

[18] In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, there were no cases at Grinnell, but Kington and the administration asked students to go home and continue their learning online, as a general safety precaution.