Spring Break
Western professor gets novel idea
Thom Koschwanez
Issue date: 2/4/05 Section: News
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"I thought I would counter the Army with the Peace Corps. It seemed like a good balance," Hawkinson said.
Receiving his acceptance into Southern Illinois University's doctoral program would delay his dream for three years. In 1986, after graduating with his Ph.D. in speech communication, he traveled to Mali, West Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, he would spend two years teaching at a teachers' college.
Hawkinson joined Western's communication arts and sciences department in 1988 and has been part of the faculty since, only taking time out in 1990 to serve as a Fulbright Professor/Researcher, teaching American studies at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Currently he is not focusing on another book but said, "I heard an author interviewed who had just published a book, and he said that 'writing and not writing are hell, and having written is heaven.' So I am in the heaven stage. But I am always playing around with things such as short stories, children's books and poetry."
Hawkinson said he wants to share his ability, tell a simple story that has great meaning.
"It's amazing how a book writes itself. It's a very simple book, a very short book. I think there's a lot of beauty in the book and there's some wonderful lessons. And to be able to share that with others is very fulfilling for me." Hawkinson said.
Receiving his acceptance into Southern Illinois University's doctoral program would delay his dream for three years. In 1986, after graduating with his Ph.D. in speech communication, he traveled to Mali, West Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, he would spend two years teaching at a teachers' college.
Hawkinson joined Western's communication arts and sciences department in 1988 and has been part of the faculty since, only taking time out in 1990 to serve as a Fulbright Professor/Researcher, teaching American studies at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Currently he is not focusing on another book but said, "I heard an author interviewed who had just published a book, and he said that 'writing and not writing are hell, and having written is heaven.' So I am in the heaven stage. But I am always playing around with things such as short stories, children's books and poetry."
Hawkinson said he wants to share his ability, tell a simple story that has great meaning.
"It's amazing how a book writes itself. It's a very simple book, a very short book. I think there's a lot of beauty in the book and there's some wonderful lessons. And to be able to share that with others is very fulfilling for me." Hawkinson said.
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