Kevin Charlwood ’86, Ph.D.

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service

Driven by a lifelong commitment to service, compassion and civic responsibility, Kevin Charlwood, Ph.D. ’86, has dedicated his life to strengthening communities, responding to crises and supporting organizations that care for society’s most vulnerable.

A Wisconsin native, Charlwood graduated magna cum laude from Carroll College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics. While at Carroll, he was deeply engaged in campus life, restarting and serving as president of the Math Club, tutoring and assisting in the Mathematics and Physics departments and serving in several student leadership and advisory roles. He was recognized with both the Physics Department Award (1985) and the Mathematics Department Award (1986), early affirmations of both his academic excellence and service-oriented character.

After earning his Ph.D. in mathematics, Charlwood devoted more than two decades to higher education as a professor and long-serving chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Upon retiring in 2020, he redirected his full energy toward community service, defined by humanitarian impact.

Since 2019, Charlwood has been an extraordinarily active volunteer and leader with the American Red Cross, contributing thousands of service hours across disaster response, governance and volunteer engagement. He has served on the Red Cross Board of Directors since 2019, including one-year terms as both Vice Chair and Chair, while also responding directly to emergencies. He has assisted with more than 20 local fire calls, supported families displaced by devastating house fires and deployed disaster responses across Kansas, Oklahoma and California following tornadoes and wildfires. In these roles, he has helped survivors secure food, clothing, medications, emergency financial assistance and transitional housing—often working 12-hour days under intense conditions. In just two recent service years, he logged more than 2,300 volunteer hours.

Beyond emergency response, Charlwood plays a vital role in the Red Cross’s Home Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Program, educating residents and installing free smoke detectors in high-risk communities. He is also an Emergency Response Vehicle–certified driver, onboarding lead for new volunteers across the Kansas–Oklahoma region and a regional recovery database administrator, ensuring timely, accurate support for those in crisis.

Charlwood’s service extends broadly throughout the Topeka community. Since 1997, he has volunteered with KTWU-TV, the local PBS affiliate, supporting pledge drives and fundraising events. He serves as a docent with Stormont Vail Hospital, assisting patients and helping direct auxiliary funds toward scholarships and critical medical equipment. As a Shawnee County poll worker, he supports the democratic process by assisting voters and managing election operations. He also participates annually in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, offering both logistical support and personal advocacy as a cancer survivor.

A consistent blood donor since 2019, Charlwood has contributed more than four gallons of blood. He also serves as president of the Topeka Stamp Club, working to preserve the organization and build community through outreach and education.

Across every role, Kevin Charlwood exemplifies quiet leadership, steady presence and a willingness to step forward when others are in need. His service is defined by humility, consistency and genuine care for others. Through decades of unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes and civic engagement, he has made a measurable and lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals.

See all the 2026 award recipients