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| 2 0 1 6 K U T Z T OW N U N I V E R S I T Y WO M E N ’ S L A C R O S S E
DR. KENNETH S. HAWKINSON
began his presidential tenure at Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania on July 1, 2015.
Dr. Hawkinson came to Kutztown from Western Illinois University, where he most re-
cently served as provost from 2012-15. He was hired there in 1988 as an assistant
professor in the Department of Communication. He also is a former military officer,
having served in the U.S. Army as both an infantry officer and a public affairs officer.
As provost at Western Illinois, Dr. Hawkinson was responsible for areas including uni-
versity planning, fiscal and enrollment management, curriculum and contract negotia-
tions. He implemented significant changes to the university’s First Year Experience
program, which resulted in a nearly 10 percent increase in the fall-to-spring retention
rate. He met weekly with the Faculty Senate and other faculty governance bodies, as
well as with departments, other campus groups and student government, and partici-
pated in “town hall” meetings at the college and university levels.
Dr. Hawkinson earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Western Illinois. He also
has a Master of Arts in speech communication from the in-
stitution and a Ph.D. in speech communication/performance
studies from Southern Illinois University. He was a Fulbright
scholar from 1990-91, during which he taught American
studies at the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in
West Africa, and conducted research in African folklore and
oral tradition. He also served for two years as a volunteer in
the Peace Corps in Mali.
Prior to his appointment as provost at Western Illinois, Dr.
Hawkinson served the university for four years as associate
provost and associate vice president for budget, planning
and personnel, where he oversaw all aspects of academic
affairs, including contract administration, summer session
and curriculum. Previously, he was associate dean of the
College of Fine Arts and Communication and chair of the
Department of Communication.
Dr. Hawkinson began his academic career at Western Illinois
as an assistant professor of communication, and later was
promoted to associate, then full professor. He also was an
adjunct professor in African American Studies and an instruc-
tor in the Honors Program. During his time on the faculty, he
served as leader of both the Faculty Senate and the fac-
ulty union. He has published numerous articles and dozens
of professional papers.His research interests and creative
pursuits include storytelling, oral tradition and performance
of literature. Among his many dramatic presentations was a
2009 performance titled “Abe Lincoln,” given at the Western
Illinois Museum in honor of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.
Dr. Hawkinson was in the U.S. Army for three years. After
serving in the Illinois National Guard as a field artillery of-
ficer and executive officer for a field artillery battery, he
joined the Army as an Infantry officer. He served in Germany
as a platoon leader and a weapons platoon leader and as a
public affairs officer.
President Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson