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Kenneth Hawkinson

American academic administrator and communication scholar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Kenneth S. Hawkinson is an American academic administrator and communication scholar serving as the 12th President of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He assumed office on July 1, 2015.[1] He announced his retirement on August 23, 2024, but said he would continue in the role until the Summer of 2025 to give time for a replacement to be recruited.[2] It was later announced on April 30, 2025 that Philip Cavalier was hired and will be starting in the role on July 6, 2025.[3]

Quick Facts 12th President of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Preceded by ...
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Early life and education

Hawkinson is a native of Carpentersville, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Master of Arts in Speech Communication from Western Illinois University. He then went on to earn his PhD in Speech Communication & Performance from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. As a Fulbright Scholar, Hawkinson taught abroad at the University of Ouagadougou in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. He also conducted research in African History and Folklore.[4]

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Career

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Military

Hawkinson served as a member of the Illinois National Guard and United States Army. As a Field Artillery Officer and Executive Officer for a Field Artillery Battery, he was called to active duty as an Infantry Officer in Germany. He was also a volunteer with the Peace Corps.[5] In 2016, Hawkinson was inducted into the U.S. Army ROTC National Hall of Fame.[6]

Education

Hawkinson was an assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of communication at Western Illinois University. He later worked as the provost, academic vice president, associate provost, and associate vice president for budget, planning and personnel. Hawkinson was selected as the 12th president of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2015, succeeding F. Javier Cevallos.[7]

Hawkinson's presidency has included guiding the university through the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent associated challenges – including moving nearly all university functions online in Spring 2020. Hawkinson followed by committing to return to primarily in-person operations and classes the following academic year and beyond. This decision has not been without controversy, with a number of lawsuits filed disputing the decision.[citation needed]

Under Hawkinson, the KU Foundation completed the “Together, We’re Golden: The Campaign for Kutztown University” in 2023, raising a school-record $46,852,180 to create scholarships, bolster emergency funds and enhance student experiences.[8]

Kutztown University’s overall full-time equivalency students rose in 2023 for the first time since 2010. 31% of incoming freshmen in Fall of 2023 were minority students.[9]

Awards

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References

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