# Kenneth Hawkinson

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**Kenneth S. Hawkinson** is an American academic administrator and [communication](/source/Communication_studies) scholar who served as the 12th President of [Kutztown University of Pennsylvania](/source/Kutztown_University_of_Pennsylvania) from 2015 to 2025. His term began on July 1, 2015 and ended on July 5, 2025 with the beginning of Phillip Cavalier's term. [1][2]

## Early life and education

Hawkinson is a native of [Carpentersville, Illinois](/source/Carpentersville,_Illinois). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Master of Arts in Speech Communication from [Western Illinois University](/source/Western_Illinois_University). He then went on to earn his PhD in Speech Communication & Performance from [Southern Illinois University Carbondale](/source/Southern_Illinois_University_Carbondale). As a [Fulbright Scholar](/source/Fulbright_Scholar), Hawkinson taught abroad at the [University of Ouagadougou](/source/University_of_Ouagadougou) in the West African nation of [Burkina Faso](/source/Burkina_Faso). He also conducted research in African History and Folklore.[3]

## Career

### Military

Hawkinson served as a member of the [Illinois National Guard](/source/Illinois_National_Guard) and [United States Army](/source/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](/source/Germany). He was also a volunteer with the [Peace Corps](/source/Peace_Corps).[4] In 2016, Hawkinson was inducted into the [U.S. Army ROTC](/source/U.S._Army_ROTC) National Hall of Fame.[5]

### Education

Hawkinson was an assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of communication at [Western Illinois University](/source/Western_Illinois_University). He later worked as the [provost](/source/Provost_(education)), 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](/source/Kutztown_University_of_Pennsylvania) in 2015, succeeding [F. Javier Cevallos](/source/F._Javier_Cevallos).[6]

Hawkinson's presidency has included guiding the university through the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/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 action included denying ADA accommodations to several faculty leading to a number of federal lawsuits which ultimately documented that Hawkinson's actions were violations of long-standing laws (most notably Oross v. Kutztown University, et al., No. 21-5032 E.D. Pa. 07/25/23 and Oross v. Kutztown University et al., No. 21-5032 E.D. Pa. 01/08/24).

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.[7]

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.[8]

### Awards

Year Organization Award Ref. 2016 United States Army ROTC National Hall of Fame [9] 2016 Reading Eagle Educator of the Year [10] 2017 Elgin Community College (ECC) Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award [11] 2019 Child Promise Estelle R. Richmond Leadership Award [12] 2019 Northampton Community College Commencement Speaker [13] 2024 Elgin Community College (ECC) Foundation Sensational 75 Award [14] 2024 Lehigh Valley Business Top 100 Leaders of the Lehigh Valley [15]

## References

1. ["About the President - Dr. Philip Cavalier"](https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/presidents-office/biography.html). *www.kutztown.edu*. Retrieved 2025-10-08.

1. ["Higher Education"](http://www.communicationscounsel.com/higher-education). *Communications Counsel*. Retrieved 2021-01-12.

1. ["About the President - Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson"](https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/presidents-office/biography.html). *www.kutztown.edu*. Retrieved 2021-01-11.

1. ["Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson Biography - Provost & Academic Vice President - Western Illinois University"](http://www.wiu.edu/provost/personnel/hawkinsonbio.php). *www.wiu.edu*. Retrieved 2021-01-11.

1. Relations, KU University. ["Hawkinson inducted into U.S. Army ROTC National Hall of Fame"](https://www.berksmontnews.com/news/hawkinson-inducted-into-u-s-army-rotc-national-hall-of-fame/article_7f32304b-7444-5dc6-8d94-8b4574e10c7f.html). *Berks-Mont News*. Retrieved 2021-01-11.[dead link]

1. Tatu, Christina (18 March 2015). ["Kutztown University has a new president"](https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-kutztown-new-president-20150317-story.html). *mcall.com*. Retrieved 2021-01-11.

1. ["Kutztown University Wraps Comprehensive Campaign"](https://www.kutztown.edu/news-and-media/news-releases/september-2023/kutztown-university-wraps-comprehensive-campaign.html). *www.kutztown.edu*. Retrieved 2025-02-04.

1. ["Kutztown University Celebrates Significant Increases in Diversity and Students Served; Highest Freshman GPA ever for Fall 2023"](https://www.kutztown.edu/news-and-media/news-releases/october-2023/significant-increases-in-diversity-and-students-served-highest-freshman-gpa-ever-for-fall-2023.html). *www.kutztown.edu*. Retrieved 2024-02-16.

1. ["Hawkinson inducted into U.S. Army ROTC National Hall of Fame"](https://www.readingeagle.com/2016/07/15/hawkinson-inducted-into-us-army-rotc-national-hall-of-fame/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["Educator of the Year: Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson, Kutztown University president"](https://www.readingeagle.com/2016/01/04/educator-of-the-year-dr-kenneth-hawkinson-kutztown-university-president/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["KU President honored with Elgin Community College Distinguished Alumni Award"](https://www.readingeagle.com/2017/02/27/ku-president-honored-with-elgin-community-college-distinguished-alumni-award/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["2019 GALA HIGHLIGHTS"](https://www.childpromise.org/2019-gala-highlights/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["NCC graduates 794 students from 16 countries (PHOTOS)"](https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/05/ncc-graduates-794-students-from-16-countries-photos.html). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["Sensational 75"](https://celebrate.elgin.edu/sensational-75/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

1. ["Meet the 2024 Lehigh Valley Business’ Power 100"](https://lvb.com/meet-the-2024-lehigh-valley-business-power-100/). Retrieved 2025-02-13.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenneth Hawkinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hawkinson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hawkinson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.