Education Professor Passes Away

Jan Hawkins, a recently-tenured professor at the Graduate School of Education (GSE), died last Tuesday at a hospital in New York City. She was 48.

Hawkins, professor of practice at the GSE, had done nationally recognized work on the integration of technology into classrooms and children's education.

She had developed breast cancer three years ago, but extensive treatment allowed her to continue her career. She was given tenure at the GSE last September. Hawkins died after a sudden recurrence of the disease in recent months.

Before coming to Harvard, Hawkins was the director of the Center for Children and Technology in New York City, an organization she had been affiliated with since 1981.

"Jan touched the lives of thousands with her spirit of inquiry," said William J. Pally, a colleague at the center. "She was the most genuinely curious and open-minded of people."

Hawkins' work at the center focused on bringing together specialists in research, education and technological development.

Co-workers said Hawkins will be remembered for her kind, outgoing personality and positive attitude.

"She had an amazing ability to really listen, then begin asking all sorts of questions," said Margaret A. Honey, a colleague of 15 years. "She was always deeply interested in what other people thought."

According to Pally, Hawkins' primary academic interests included "human developments, educational policy, school reform and even aesthetics--she was trained originally in literature."

Hawkins received a bachelor's degree in psychology and English from Tufts University in 1973. She earned a master's degree in human development at the University of Connecticut.

She completed her education at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Hawkins received an M.Ph in psychology and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology with a concentration in cognitive psychology and development.

"She was an absolute leader in the field of technology education...[but] she placed human needs at the fore-front," Pally said. "She made every conversation better and every exchange more enjoyable."

Hawkins served on the White House Technology in Education Task Force. She was also a member of the

President's Council of Science and TechnologyAdvisors and the National Advisory Council ofScholastic, Inc.

In addition, Hawkins served as vice presidentof the Education Development Center, dean of theResearch Division of Bank Street College andinstructor of child development at BrooklynCollege.

A prolific writer and editor, Hawkins wrotedozens of articles for academic journals. Her workhas been published in The Annals of the Academyof Political and Social Science, Journal of SocialIssues and Proceedings: Assessment andTechnology.

In the 1980s, Hawkins served as researchdirector for two children's educational videostitled The Voyage of the Mimi and TheSecond Voyage of the Mimi.

"The world was united in agreement that Jan wasone of the most creative and generous people inthe field," Honey said.

Family and friends have scheduled a memorialservice on Sunday, March 7 at noon in the SynodHouse, which is part of St. John the DivineCathedral in New York City

President's Council of Science and TechnologyAdvisors and the National Advisory Council ofScholastic, Inc.

In addition, Hawkins served as vice presidentof the Education Development Center, dean of theResearch Division of Bank Street College andinstructor of child development at BrooklynCollege.

A prolific writer and editor, Hawkins wrotedozens of articles for academic journals. Her workhas been published in The Annals of the Academyof Political and Social Science, Journal of SocialIssues and Proceedings: Assessment andTechnology.

In the 1980s, Hawkins served as researchdirector for two children's educational videostitled The Voyage of the Mimi and TheSecond Voyage of the Mimi.

"The world was united in agreement that Jan wasone of the most creative and generous people inthe field," Honey said.

Family and friends have scheduled a memorialservice on Sunday, March 7 at noon in the SynodHouse, which is part of St. John the DivineCathedral in New York City