KU News Release

Experienced KU administrator named director of University Honors Program

Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett

LAWRENCE — An academic administrator with two decades of experience at the dean and vice provost levels at the University of Kansas has been tapped to lead the University Honors Program, a hub for more than 1,200 top student scholars.

Joseph E. Steinmetz, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which houses the honors program, announced Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett will assume the post of director on July 1. McCluskey-Fawcett stepped down as senior vice provost for academic affairs last year to serve as honors faculty fellow, where she teaches an honors class in child psychology, an honors seminar and advises honors students.

“As one of KU’s most experienced administrators, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett will no doubt translate her passion for the honors program into educational opportunities that have enduring effects on the futures of the university's best and brightest undergraduates,” Steinmetz said. “Her compelling vision for enhancing the program will help us reach our goals of redoubling recruitment efforts, expanding scholarship opportunities and linking departmental honors programs to the University Honors Program.”

McCluskey-Fawcett, a professor of psychology who has taught every year while serving in top administration, said working with honors students over the past 20 years has been one of the most challenging and satisfying experiences of her time at KU.

“I am honored to follow the outstanding directors with whom I have had the privilege of working during my years at KU, including J. Michael Young, Barbara Schowen and Stan Lombardo,” McCluskey-Fawcett said. “I look forward to continuing the great work that is being done currently in the honors program and exploring ways of making this wonderful program even better.”

McCluskey-Fawcett was named senior vice provost for academic affairs in 2002, a promotion from her position of associate provost, to which she had been appointed in 1996. In 2001, she took a one-year leave to serve as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

McCluskey-Fawcett previously had been associate vice chancellor for academic affairs from 1993 to 1996, associate dean of the College from 1989 to 1993 and chair of the Department of Psychology from 1986 to 1989.

McCluskey-Fawcett came to KU in 1985 as a visiting associate professor of psychology and a research associate for the Bureau of Child Research. Before coming to KU, she chaired the psychology department at West Virginia University. A 1971 graduate of the University of Minnesota, she earned a master’s degree in child development and a doctorate in developmental and child psychology from KU.

In fall 1999, McCluskey-Fawcett was a visiting scholar with the American Psychological Association. In 1998 and 2001, she received the Outstanding Educator Award from Mortar Board and the College’s J. Michael Young Academic Advisor Award. In 1987, she was elected to the KU Women’s Hall of Fame.

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