Commencement

Roy L. Hawkins, Jr. is Senior Vice President and President of the Charlotte Area for Advocate Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems. In this role, he provides executive leadership for one of the system’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving markets, overseeing the strategic, operational, and cultural direction of a complex, multi-hospital ecosystem serving communities across North Carolina. 

Mr. Hawkins’ leadership is grounded in advancing clinical excellence, expanding access to care, strengthening community and academic partnerships, and fostering high-performing environments where patients, clinicians, and teams can thrive. He brings more than 20 years of senior healthcare leadership experience across academic, nonprofit, for-profit, and government healthcare systems, with a consistent focus on quality, equity, and operational excellence. 

Prior to joining Advocate Health, Mr. Hawkins served as Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, one of the nation’s largest public hospitals. During his tenure, he led major clinical enterprises including the Ryder Trauma Center and the Miami Transplant Institute. His career also includes CEO and COO roles within the Jackson Health System, HCA Healthcare, and multiple Veterans Affairs healthcare organizations, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Medical Center Director.

A nationally recognized healthcare leader, Mr. Hawkins is a board-certified healthcare executive, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a Past President of the National Association of Health Services Executives. He currently serves on the Howard University Hospital Corporation Board of Directors, where he chairs the Credentialing Committee, and serves on the board of the Scottsdale Institute, a leading community of healthcare executives advancing collaboration and innovation. Most recently, he was appointed to the board of United Way of Greater Charlotte, extending his leadership beyond healthcare delivery into broader community impact and regional stewardship. 

Mr. Hawkins is a proud alumnus of Howard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, and he holds a Master of Health Administration from Florida International University. He remains dedicated to advancing innovation, excellence, and sustainable healthcare delivery models that improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.