“There is no doubt in my mind that my path was intended to prepare me for my work at Union,” she says. “This has been my dream job.”

As Union’s president, Hawkins has developed numerous projects and programs that have made the route to higher education and a rewarding career more direct, accessible, and affordable for others than it was for her.

“If you don't have to spend all that time finding the doors that open here and there, then don't,” she says. “You can start your really good, successful life early on.”

Online & Graduate Programming

Soon after she began at Union, Hawkins saw that introducing online programming would benefit working adults as well as their families. Union’s first program to offer an online option was the RN-to-BSN, which is designed for registered nurses to complete their bachelor’s degree.

“These were people out in the working world, and we just had to face the reality that not everybody can come to campus,” she says, “but everybody who wants to have a college education and can do the work should have the opportunity to do that.”

From there, Hawkins and her team built more and more online and graduate programming to adapt to student needs. This has benefited individuals and communities in southeastern Kentucky while reaching the global community, as well.

“There was a wide world out there that we weren’t reaching, and we could do better,” she says.

Union Distinction

Building on and blending these proven programs, Union Distinction is a “four-year pathway to a successful future” as Hawkins describes it. Combining the four-year focus of U-GRAD with the support model of UCE – and driven by Union’s commitment to help students find their vocational calling – Union Distinction is perhaps Hawkins’ most visionary project.

“Everybody has a purpose. They may not necessarily know what it is, but it's there,” Hawkins says.

“What we're trying to do with Union Distinction is really encourage our students to not just tick off courses and get a degree, but really think about what they want to do in life, what they would like their contribution to be and visualize what life after college looks like.”

The first year of Union Distinction is about transitioning into college life. In year two, students identify their interests and talents and discover vocations that match. As juniors, they refine their career and life choices, and as seniors, internships and other real-world experiences help them prepare for life after Union.

“Our goal is that when you leave Union, you are either going to a job, an internship, or graduate school,” Hawkins says. “That's the thing I feel should be our biggest focus – that a student leaves here knowing, or at least having a good idea, of what their life is going to look like and how to get there.”

To further expand affordability, Hawkins also implemented the Union Distinction scholarship, which provides Kentucky students of highest financial need with 100% free tuition. Select students are eligible for loan repayment assistance if they struggle to find a job immediately after graduation.

Union Commonwealth University

President Hawkins’ dedication to educational access extends to the master’s level, as well. During her 12 years of service, programming and enrollment in this area have grown dramatically, including the addition of an international graduate program in 2021. Union is now a level IV graduate degree granting institution.

To represent this status and more accurately describe the full range of educational opportunities the school now offers, Union’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution in the fall of 2023 to update Union’s official name. After gathering input from a wide variety of stakeholders, the Board announced Union Commonwealth University as the new name in the spring of 2024.

“Of all the names suggested, Union Commonwealth University stood out as accurately defining our mission for the common good of students and community,” Hawkins says. She noted that the new name identifies Union as a “regional institution with a global reach.”

Full Circle

When Hawkins was a senior in high school, her guidance counselor enrolled her in a vocational program, without even discussing college. “My parents didn’t have a lot of money, neither had gone beyond high school, and I was a girl,” she says. “It was just assumed that I wasn’t on that track.”

After decades of diligent work and a view that everything could be a learning opportunity, she amassed the skills and knowledge to not only become the first in her family to pursue college, but also an innovative leader committed to easing that process for others. As President of Union College and Union Commonwealth University, Dr. Hawkins has created many programs that will continue to benefit the campus and community, both local and global, long after her retirement at the end of this school year.

Communications Professor Dr. Christine Marley-Frederick, Union's current longest-serving faculty member, shared this reflection on Hawkins’ time at Union: “From Fanny Speed forward through to today, there have always been strong women guiding Union but never before as president. There is a sense of motherhood - caring and nurturing - about this school, and Marcia embodies this. Throughout our work together, she has maintained a consistent and strong set of ethics based on her faith. She’s always been focused on serving the community, justice for others, and leading with love.”

When asked what advice she would give those considering becoming the first in their family to attend college, Hawkins says:

“Your education journey starts with the first step. Enroll in a class or two. Find your interests and strengthen them. Your knowledge and success will lift up everyone around you. It’s never too late to start.”