Kevin Charlwood ’86, Ph.D.
Recipient of the 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.
