Alumni Spotlight: Derek W. Hawkes
Music performance alum Derek W. Hawkes (B.M., B.A. ’14) has built a career that reflects the power of interdisciplinary training at Meadows.
Derek W. Hawkes (B.M., B.A. ’14) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.
Meadows has long prepared musicians not only for the stage, but for the many ways artistry and leadership intersect beyond it. Derek W. Hawkes exemplifies that vision. Now a Senior Consultant for World Wide Technology (WWT), Hawkes has built a career that bridges his background in musical performance with strategy and digital innovation, all rooted in the interdisciplinary thinking he cultivated at Meadows.
As a student, Hawkes began his SMU journey as a trombone performance major, but quickly recognized the value of pairing his musical studies with broader academic exploration. During his sophomore year, he added a second major through the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies program, focusing on orchestra management.
That dual foundation shaped Hawkes’ early professional life. After graduating, he spent six years as a professional orchestral trombonist, winning his first full-time position with the Jacksonville Symphony at just 22. He later served as Assistant Principal/Second Trombone with the Nashville Symphony, all while taking on leadership roles within his employing organizations. While performance remained central, Hawkes also found fulfillment in the impact he could make offstage as well.
“The flexible academic opportunities available at Meadows made all the difference in the world for me,” says Hawkes who served in elected roles for Orchestra Committees, Negotiating Committees and Boards of Directors. “The track was laid at SMU for me to have a versatile career beyond everything I was doing onstage.”
In 2020, an unexpected injury forced a pivotal reassessment of his path. Rather than stepping away from the arts entirely, Hawkes leaned into the analytical and collaborative skills he had developed at Meadows. Encouraged by conversations with a fellow Meadows alum and double major, he enrolled in the MBA program at Washington University in St. Louis, with a clear goal of transitioning into consulting.
Today, Hawkes has been with World Wide Technology for over two years, managing a digital product workstream for a major client in the restaurant industry. His work blends creativity, structure, and adaptability, which are the same qualities he honed through years of ensemble performance. He also continues to think critically about the future of the arts, particularly how orchestras and digital platforms can come together to expand access while preserving the irreplaceable experience of live performance.
“I've learned so much over the past five years about how to reflect on everything you are innately taught when you work towards mastering a craft for most of your life, and just how much of it is ultimately transferable to the success that you can find in a completely different career,” Hawkes reflects on going from professional trombonist to consultant. “As with any major career transition, so much of it is learning what that story is and then how to tell it, homing in on what’s especially valuable to you as you traverse careers.”
He remains closely connected to Meadows through his service on the Meadows 2050 Council, where he collaborates with alumni, faculty, and administrators to help shape the school’s long-term vision. Reengaging with the School has been especially meaningful as he balances his second career with a renewed commitment to arts leadership.
Hawkes’ professional journey demonstrates Meadows’ belief that artistic training can open doors far beyond a single linear path and its mission to equip graduates with the ability to adapt, lead, and thrive wherever their careers may take them.