Kutztown University has a new president
The new leader of Kutztown University has been selected.
The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on Wednesday announced that Dr. Philip Cavalier has been chosen as the school's new president. The appointment is effective July 6.
Dr. Philip Cavalier
Cavalier will succeed Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson who announced last year that he would retire this summer. Hawkinson has served as Kutztown's president since 2015.
Cavalier currently serves as provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Tennessee at Martin, a regional public university with more than 7,000 students in northwest Tennessee. He also served as interim chancellor there for five months in 2023.
'Dr. Cavalier brings an exceptional breadth of experience as both an educator and a university leader,' Dr. Cynthia Shapira, PASSHE board chair, said in a statement announcing the appointment. 'Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to collaboration with students, faculty and staff, and he brings a strong background in strategic planning. Dr. Cavalier is passionate about fostering campus communities where all students, especially first-generation students, can thrive both in and out of the classroom.
'He will be an outstanding president for Kutztown University, and we are proud to welcome him to the state system.'
Cavalier said he is thrilled to take the reins at Kuztown.
'I am thrilled to be selected to serve as the next president of Kutztown University and join a remarkable community of engaged scholars and professionals committed to transforming students' lives,' he said. 'During his 10 years of exemplary leadership, President Hawkinson has built a strong foundation for Kutztown. I look forward to collaborating with all the campus and external stakeholders to enhance Kutztown's reputation as a premier regional university in the northeast.'
During his time at UTM, Cavalier led the creation of the school's 2025-30 strategic plan, two strategic enrollment plans and developed or enhanced eight academic programs aligned with student interests and local workforce needs.
He also played a key role in boosting student retention and graduation rates, managed the university's largest budget and forged new partnerships with community colleges and regional employers, including a major collaboration with Ford Motor Co., officials said.
Prior to his time at UTM, Cavalier held several faculty and senior leadership roles in higher education, including provost at Lyon College, provost and dean of the college at Eureka College and dean of general education at Catawba College.
He as a Fulbright Scholar at Kyiv International University and Kyiv Slavonic University in Ukraine and a tenured faculty member in English at Catawba College.
Cavalier holds a doctorate in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master's degree in English from Northeastern University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Swarthmore College.
Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, PASSHE chancellor, said Cavalier's vision for higher education is a perfect fit for the state system.
'Dr. Cavalier believes a quality higher education can change lives and should be affordable to every student who wants it, which aligns with PASSHE's mission,' he said. 'Kutztown is a dynamic institution, and he is the perfect person to lead the university. We are proud to welcome him to Kutztown and the state system.'
Dennis Giorno, chair of KU's board of trustees, likewise said Cavalier is a great selection to lead the university.
'On behalf of the Kutztown University Council of Trustees, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Philip Cavalier as the 13th president of this great institution,' he said. 'Dr. Cavalier was selected after a six-month comprehensive nationwide search. He brings a wealth of experience to our campus, including 27 years in higher education as a professor, dean and provost. This most recently includes seven years at UT Martin, where he served as provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and managed the institution as interim chancellor.
'We are confident he will further Kutztown University's mission and 159-year tradition of providing affordable high-quality undergraduate, graduate and lifelong learning opportunities to the students of our region and beyond.'
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