Troy University has announced that its Chancellor, Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., the longest-serving CEO of any public university in the nation, will retire at the end of 2028, following a planned three-year leadership transition. The retirement timeline, announced with the Board of Trustees’ endorsement, comes one year after the Board asked him to delay his stepping down.

Under the plan, Dr. Hawkins will continue serving as Chancellor through Dec. 31, 2027, before moving into an advisor role for his final year at the University.

Gibson Vance, President Pro Tem of the Troy University Board of Trustees, said the extended transition honors Hawkins’ nearly 4 decades of leadership.

“Over the past several decades, Troy University has reached unprecedented heights in service to the people of Alabama

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