Hickok, Gene
Former Pennsylvania Commissioner of Education, Former Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Eugene Hickok was a professor of political science and law at Dickinson College and the Dickinson School of Law for many years. An award-winning teacher, he has published numerous books and articles on topics related to the Constitution, the presidency, congress and the courts, including Justice vs. Law: Courts and Politics in American Society (with Gary McDowell). In 1995, he was appointed Pennsylvania Secretary of Education by Governor Tom Ridge. The office has broad authority over all of education in the Commonwealth, elementary through graduate. With Governor Ridge, Hickok was able to establish charter schools, tuition tax credits, higher standards for students and teachers, alternative routes to teacher certification and Pennsylvania’s first state-wide education technology initiative, “Link to Learn.” In 2001, Hickok became U.S. under secretary of education in the George W. Bush Administration. With oversight of the budget, policy and implementation of secondary and elementary education, higher education and special education initiatives, Hickok had overall responsibility for the implementation of President Bush highest domestic priority, No Child Left Behind. In 2004, he was appointed U.S. deputy secretary of education. Currently he is Senior Policy Advisor for Whiteboard Advisors in Washington D.C. His commentary has appeared in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Education Week and The Richmond Times Dispatch. His most recent books are Why States? The Challenge of Federalism and Schoolhouse of Cards: An Inside Story of No Child Left Behind and Why America Needs a Real Education Revolution. Hickok resides in the city where grew up, Richmond, Virginia.
