Dr. William J. Hawk ’72, professor of philosophy and ethical reasoning in action at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., will present an Alumni Forum at 11 a.m. on Tuesday,  March 27, in Yoder Recital Hall. 

During his presentation, “Getting Past ‘What Happens in the Ethics Classroom Stays in the Ethics Classroom’: A Strategy for Better Decision Making,” Hawk will discuss research that suggests ethics instruction can improve real-world decision making.  

According to Hawk, “Most decisions, including moral ones, are made quickly and intuitively with justifications coming afterward. Better informed choices and actions result from growing a culture in which ‘automatic’ decision processes are interrupted by questions.” 

Hawk will discuss how James Madison University and other universities, professional organizations and business are nurturing an ethical reasoning culture. 

Currently the chair of the Madison Collaborative at JMU, Hawk served as Bluffton’s vice president and dean of academic affairs from 1990-1994.