{"id":6529,"date":"2024-09-03T21:56:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T21:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/?p=6529"},"modified":"2024-09-04T15:45:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T15:45:23","slug":"hawkins-announces-2025-retirement-as-troy-university-chancellor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/2024\/09\/03\/hawkins-announces-2025-retirement-as-troy-university-chancellor\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawkins announces 2025 retirement as Troy University Chancellor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION<\/a>) \u2014 Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.<\/a>, who has served as Troy University<\/a> Chancellor for more than 35 years during a period of unprecedented growth, has announced his retirement effective Oct. 1, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Hawkins, who is currently the longest-serving chief executive of a public university, announced his retirement date in an email to faculty and staff today. Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Hawkins called his time at TROY a privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe last three and a half decades have been among the most important in my lifetime and in the life my wife Janice and I have shared as a team,\u201d Dr. Hawkins said. \u201cWe are proud of the work we have done, from re-classification of the university to doctoral degree status; to the transformation of a regional institution into \u2018Alabama\u2019s International University;\u2019 and the elevation of our Athletics Program to the highest level of college athletics. It has been a remarkable experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gov. Kay Ivey<\/a> praised Dr. Hawkins as a transformative leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been proud to know and work with Chancellor Hawkins for more than 30 years and to simply say he has been an effective leader for TROY would be an understatement. His work has helped transform the Troy State University system into the renowned, global, doctoral institution we all know today as Troy University,\u201d said Governor Ivey. \u201cFrom the classroom to the field, TROY has accomplished a great deal under the leadership of Chancellor Hawkins, and he leaves a legacy that will last for generations of students to come. Thank you, Jack, for your outstanding service to TROY, our state and country, for your unmatched tenure and your strong partnership over the years. I wish you well in this next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gibson Vance, President pro-tempore of the University\u2019s Board of Trustees, commended Dr. Hawkins for the many historic accomplishments made under his leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChancellor Hawkins has built an indelible legacy at Troy University that will stand the test of time,\u201d Vance said. \u201cHe is a once in a generation leader that used his skills to improve the trajectory of thousands of students over his unprecedented tenure as Chancellor. With his wife Janice\u2019s support, Troy University\u2019s campus has evolved into one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. Over the next year, the Board of Trustees and the entire Trojan nation will honor Jack and Janice Hawkins for all the wonderful accomplishments they have achieved at Troy University.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following his retirement date, Dr. Hawkins will serve as Chancellor Emeritus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt will be my honor to continue supporting the Board of Trustees and my successor in any way they deem appropriate. We have much to do from now until October of 2025, and while at that point we will be stepping away from the daily operations, our\u00a0hearts will remain deeply\u00a0rooted\u00a0in Troy University.\u201d<\/p>Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Hawkins, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was named Chancellor of the Troy State University System on Sept. 1, 1989. He has overseen an era of change and growth at TROY. More than $375 million has been invested in capital improvements by the Hawkins Administration, including new academic buildings on all four of TROY\u2019s Alabama campuses. Chancellor Hawkins served as the catalyst for the University\u2019s evolution to an international institution, as TROY has attracted record numbers of students from other nations and established teaching sites around the world. During his tenure, academic standards for admission have been increased, new degree programs were established in all academic colleges, and intercollegiate athletics joined the highest level of NCAA competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education approved an instructional role change for Troy University that will allow the University to offer additional doctoral degrees, a move that paves the way for TROY\u2019s continued maturation as a research institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat Dr. Hawkins has done at Troy University is phenomenal,\u201d said TROY Trustee Gerald Dial. \u201cIt is almost unbelievable that so much change and progress has been made. It is one of the most beautiful campuses, certainly in Alabama, and one of the most beautiful campuses in America. I could talk for hours about his record and his accomplishments, but the greatest thing about Dr. Hawkins is he has always put students first. The students were the number one reason he was here. It is going to be a terrible loss, but we feel like we will build on the foundation he has laid for this University and continue to move TROY forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Coleman, Chair of the TROY Foundation Board of Directors, said Dr. Hawkins is a leader who lives up to the spirit of TROY\u2019s motto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDr. Hawkins is a godly man of integrity and an excellent servant leader. He always has demonstrated a passion for the well-being of students and an unwavering commitment to the University\u2019s motto \u2013 \u2018Educate the Mind to Think, the Heart to Feel and the Body to Act,\u2019\u201d Coleman said. \u201cDr. Hawkins has always made everyone feel valued and important, and he has the courage and strength to expand boundaries to make Troy University and the world a better place. I am also grateful to Mrs. Hawkins and the family. Her service to this University has been exemplary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Susan Aldridge, President of Thomas Jefferson University, said Dr. Hawkins\u2019 global vision has been transformative for TROY and Alabama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe has been the greatest champion of military students, veterans, students from across Alabama and surrounding states, working professionals returning to school, and international students,\u201d Aldridge said. \u201cHe internationalized Troy University, providing a safe educational environment for students around the world, as well as ensuring that Troy University students experienced a global environment. He embraced new learning technologies and expanded online programs to ensure that working professionals could continue their academic work. Dr. Hawkins\u2019 name is synonymous with Troy University.  When the history is written, Dr. Hawkins will remain the finest leader Troy University has ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Lance Tatum, President of Northwest Missouri State, said Hawkins leaves an amazing legacy at TROY. Tatum, a TROY alumnus, was Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs under Dr. Hawkins prior to his appointment at Northwest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Chancellor Hawkins\u2019] contributions over the past three decades have helped shape the landscape of online and international education,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cHis impact on my career has been significant; I would not be where I am today without his support of my professional goals, his mentorship, friendship, and willingness to share his wisdom with an aspiring young professional. Jill and I are excited for him as he enters this next chapter and are grateful for the impact he and Mrs. Hawkins have had on our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trustee Cam Ward said he first met Chancellor Hawkins during his freshman year at TROY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the only chancellor I\u2019ve ever known at TROY, but he made TROY into the great higher education institution that it is today,\u201d Ward said. \u201cHe\u2019s like a second father to me. His innovative ideas helped us weather a lot of storms. TROY is where it is in the world today because of him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trustee Karen Carter said Dr. Hawkins\u2019 dynamic leadership will leave a legacy at TROY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a business leader, I have had the privilege of working alongside top executives in the country,\u201d Carter said. \u201cBut in my role as Trustee at Troy University, I have truly witnessed leadership at its finest. Jack and Janice Hawkins exude an immeasurable passion and love of our University that ignites emotions within all around them. The legacy of the Hawkins family is not only in buildings and structures, but most importantly in the people who call him their leader and their friend. I will always see Jack and Janice Hawkins whenever I see Troy University. Thank you for your dedication to our students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor’s Note: This story was contributed by Coordinator for University Relations Clif Lusk<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) \u2014 Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., who has served as Troy University Chancellor for more than 35 years during a period of unprecedented growth, has announced his retirement effective Oct. 1, 2025.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hawkins, who is currently the longest-serving chief executive of a public university, announced his retirement date in an email to…<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":6530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1127],"tags":[174,1691],"topics":[17],"class_list":["post-6529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-news","tag-dr-jack-hawkins","tag-troy-university-chancellor","topics-troy-campus"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6529"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6549,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6529\/revisions\/6549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6529"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=6529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}