BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr., will retire at the end of 2028 under a transition plan he and the Board of Trustees have finalized.
Hawkins, who has led the institution since 1989, will continue serving as Chancellor through Dec. 31, 2027. In 2028, he will move into an advisor role for his final year.
Hawkins, 80, announced in September 2024 he would retire this year. A few weeks later at the board’s encouraging, he delayed leaving. This new plan outlines a multi-year transition intended to support long-term stability.
In a statement Friday, the university said Hawkins served as the catalyst for TROY’s evolution into an international institution. The University has attracted record numbers of international students, expanded teaching sites around the world, elevated academic admission standards, established new degree programs in every academic college and advanced intercollegiate athletics to the highest level of NCAA competition.
Gibson Vance, President Pro-Tem of the Troy Board of Trustees, said the plan positions the University well for the future.
“Over the past several decades, Troy University has reached unprecedented heights in service to the people of Alabama and the world,” Vance said. “Dr. Hawkins’ leadership has been critical to that success. As we look toward the future, the Trustees will remain focused on continuing the success we have enjoyed while we celebrate and honor Dr. Hawkins’ extraordinary legacy of leadership and service.”
Hawkins, the longest-serving president of a public university in the nation, said the collaborative planning process will help ensure a smooth transition.
“I am proud of what my wife and I have been blessed to achieve at Troy University, and I’d like to emphasize that nothing is ever done without a team. We have been honored to work alongside the Board of Trustees and the many faculty, staff and students who make this University great,” he said.
“This transition plan, developed in collaboration with the Board, will allow us to move toward retirement over the next three years while ensuring that TROY is well positioned for continued success in the decades to come.”
Jeff Coleman, Chair of the TROY Foundation Board of Directors, praised Hawkins’ leadership.
“He has been a visionary servant-leader who has always put students first,” Coleman said. “He makes each student feel valued and has led with an unwavering commitment to the University’s motto – ‘Educate the Mind to Think, the Heart to Feel and the Body to Act.’ He is a tremendous man of faith and patriotism, and I am grateful for all that he and Mrs. Hawkins have accomplished together.”
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