KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 9, 2024

Catherine (Katie) Kaukinen was installed as the Dr. Norman J. Radow Endowed Dean’s Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences during an investiture celebration at Kennesaw State University on Thursday.

The endowed chair – the highest honor a university can bestow upon a faculty member – recognizes Kaukinen’s leadership and intellectual achievement as dean of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS). A $1 million endowment from longtime KSU benefactor Norman Radow and his wife Lindy will provide Kaukinen with support to meet the highest priority needs of the college, its students, and faculty.

Along with celebrating Kaukinen’s accomplishments as a scholar and researcher, the investiture commended Norman Radow’s contributions over the past 25 years that have been instrumental in Kennesaw State’s growth. Radow’s service to Kennesaw State and the KSU Foundation began in 1999 and, by the time his five years as Board of Trustees chair concluded in 2012, $600 million in real estate and new buildings had been added to the Kennesaw Campus.

“Norman and Lindy, thank you for believing in KSU, for setting a powerful example for our entire community, and for helping us foster a culture of philanthropy,” KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig said. She then turned to Kaukinen and said, “We are so proud to have you as our dean. We are so glad to celebrate you today, and I know you will continue to proudly represent KSU and the Radow name with this new title.”

The Radows gave KSU a $9 million gift in 2021 – one of the largest investments from a single donor in the university’s history, which was recognized with the naming of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. They also have established several endowed scholarships, including the Paul Radow Scholarship to support KSU engineering students, the Norman J. Radow Building Better Living Scholarship for students in the College of Architecture and Construction Management, and the Lindy Radow Scholarship that supports Honors students with majors in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Radow said he is inspired by the RCHSS students he encounters and “their success is our reward.” He views Kaukinen as an ideal fit to be leading the college at a time when Kennesaw State has adopted a strategic plan to grow its national prominence for academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships, and economic opportunity.

“When Dean Kaukinen was selected as the dean of the Radow College, I received the most amazing gift – a dean who embraced the challenge of managing and growing the largest college in this incredible university,” he said. “There is not a day that her energy and positive attitude, combined with courageous decision making, doesn’t inspire my family and improve the lives of thousands of students and faculty.”

Kaukinen, who became the RCHSS dean in January 2022, is an accomplished criminology and sociology researcher. Her research focuses on examining the extent, nature, and impact of violent victimization of women, and how institutional policies can improve the outcomes of violence and trauma. Kaukinen has been published many times in academic journals, received research grants totaling more than $2.5 million, and given presentations nationally and internationally sharing her expertise, including two keynote addresses to the United Nations.

Kaukinen oversees an academic college that has nearly 8,000 students majoring in one of its more than 80 programs of study and almost 30,000 students enrolled in at least one RCHSS course. And she is confident that the best is still to come.

“I am excited to continue to collaborate with the college to innovate and make the humanities at KSU the best set of programs in the state of Georgia,” Kaukinen said. “I am grateful for the faith and confidence that Norman and the entire Radow family have placed in me. Their investment in my deanship and commitment to the college is beyond measure.”

Lance Burchett, vice president for University Advancement and CEO of the KSU Foundation, emphasized that establishing endowed chairs is essential for attracting and retaining exceptional faculty and academic leadership. With the Radows’ contribution, Kennesaw State now has 13 endowed chairs.

“Thanks to the leadership of our Trustees and generous investors like the Radows and many others in this room, the Foundation’s endowment has more than doubled in the last few years,” Burchett said. “In fact, KSU was recognized nationally this year for its extraordinary growth in endowment, ranking No. 1 of all universities in Georgia and in the top 5 percent in the nation.”

The investiture ceremony at the Social Sciences Building also was attended by KSU Foundation board chair Teddy Parrish and other board members, Radow College faculty and staff, and family, and friends of Kaukinen.

Story by Paul Floeckher

Photo by Judith Pishnery

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.