Former Moab Campus Director Steve Hawks Announces Retirement from USU

MOAB, Utah — Steven Hawks, professor of Health Education and Promotion at Utah State University Moab, has announced his retirement after 35 years as a professor, including 26 years at USU. During his tenure– which included a nine-year stint as leader of USU’s efforts in Moab and other regions in southern Utah– Hawks has been a mentor to countless students, leaving an indelible impact on generations of Aggies.

“The best part of my career has been the ability to live and work in my hometown,” Hawks said.

Hawks joined the USU faculty as an assistant professor in 1991, stationed at the USU main campus. He was promoted to associate professor in 1997 and became the regional department head for USU Extension. In 2000, he left USU to become a professor at BYU, his alma mater.

Hawks later rejoined USU in 2008, becoming the associate dean and executive director of the USU Southeast Region (which included Moab). In 2012, he became dean of the USU Southwest Region and the newly developed Moab Center. He served in this capacity until 2017, when he decided to step down from leadership and devote his final working years to teaching in the kinesiology and health science department. This included a visiting professorship in Japan in 2021, where he provided guest lectures and collaborated on research. Hawks was also instrumental in developing the college’s Master of Public Health program, a program that is available at several USU campuses, including USU Moab.

“It has been a pleasure to have Dr. Steve Hawks as a member of our faculty,” said Ken White, senior vice president of Statewide Enterprise. “His passion has always been students and providing them the highest quality education available. He was an anchor for our Moab campus for several years and helped lead the establishment of a statewide Master of Public Health degree through the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services. I wish him all the best as he transitions to this next phase of life adventures.”

Hawks entered USU Statewide administration in 2008, right as the state and U.S. economy struggled with a deep recession and higher education budgets experienced significant cuts. Despite this, Hawks worked with other USU administrators to help the region thrive and grow.

“Professor Steve Hawks is truly an institution within an institution,” said Kristian Olsen, senior associate vice president for USU Moab. “As a long-serving faculty member, leader, and unwavering student advocate, Steve has played a pivotal role in shaping the USU Moab campus into what it is today. His influence can be felt in every corner of the campus and in the lives of students, colleagues, and community members he has inspired.

“Steve’s passion for students and his deep commitment to the people of Grand County are unmatched. His leadership, vision, and tireless dedication have left an indelible mark on this campus and this community. He will be deeply missed. As Steve embarks on the next chapter of his life, I extend my heartfelt thanks and wish him all the best in the adventures ahead.

Initially, Hawks was dean over the Southeast Region, and also briefly served as the interim dean of the Uintah Basin Region as well as dean for the Southwest Region. During this time, new USU buildings were being built across the state and USU’s Statewide Campuses system was beginning to take the shape it is in today. Hawks was heavily involved in the merger of USU with the College of Eastern Utah, as well as acquiring the land and coordinating community engagement and funding efforts for the new USU Moab building. He is proud of the growth the region has seen, the progress it has made, and for the people that made it happen.

“I have loved being engaged with colleagues and community leaders to build programs that have created new opportunities for our citizens,” Hawks said. “I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work to advance the land-grant mission of USU- perhaps the most valuable resource that the state of Utah has for promoting personal well-being, economic growth and diversity, community development, and the general prosperity of citizens across the state.”

Hawks earned his degrees from Brigham Young University: a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies in 1982; master’s degrees in both East Asian Studies and Business Administration in 1985; and a doctorate in Community Health Education in 1990. His first two years of teaching were at East Carolina University and North Carolina State University, prior to joining the USU faculty in 1991.

Located in the outdoor recreation paradise of Moab and boasting one of the greenest buildings on any USU campus, Utah State University Moab offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With programs such as Nursing, Elementary Education, Recreation Resource Management and Social Work, technical education in Health Professions, Automotive and Business, and degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, USU Moab offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at moab.usu.edu.