Ronnie D. Hawkins was selected to serve as the 11th president of Angelo State University in Texas. By state law, the appointment may not be made official for 21 days after the announcement of a sole finalist. When he takes office on August 14, Hawkins will be the first African American to serve as president of Angelo State University in its 92-year history.
Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, enrolls nearly 8.700 undergraduate students and more than 1,700 graduate students, according to the most recent data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 6 percent of the undergraduate student body.
“I’m honored and humbled to serve as the next president of Angelo State University,” Hawkins said. “Decades ago, I was a student here and those years formed the foundation of my professional career and my life. I look forward to guiding this university to greater heights and to providing Angelo State students with a world-class education and unmatched professional development opportunities.”
A graduate of San Angelo Central High School, Hawkins attended Angelo State University on a track and field scholarship earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and computer science.
Hawkins went on to a 37-year tenure in the U.S. Air Force, culminating in his appointment as the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland. After retiring as a three-star general, Hawkins has been serving as an adjunct professor at Angelo State.
General Hawkins has earned three master’s degrees. He holds a master’s degree in human resources management and services from Abilene Christian University in Texas, a master’s degree in military national resource strategy and policy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and a master of divinity degree in Christian studies from Liberty University in Virginia.
Something is inherently wrong with this hire on numerous levels. Here’s a former military general who worked for one of the leading intelligence organizations in the World without ANY higher education administration experience whatsoever. The Board of Trustees at Angelo State University should be duly embarrassed for this mismatch. I guess Angelo State University is trying to “check the box” under the guise of political correctness and say “we hired a Black president and we’re not racist”.
Congratulations General Hawkins. We are proud of your accomplishment and look forward to your leadership. Please allow Brett to enroll as it is obvious he needs education & a hug so he can check those boxes in his life!