Kirkpatrick earned a bachelor's degree in education from Shippensburg University and a masters and Ph.D. in political science from Pennsylvania State University.
Under his leadership, UTSA underwent a major expansion in enrollment, faculty, building projects, and degree programs.
[1] In 2001, Kirkpatrick was hired as the president of Eastern Michigan University.
[3] He immediately pushed for the construction of a new president's house, arguing that a larger space was needed to host fundraisers and other official events.
[4] Kirkpatrick resigned from EMU in 2004, under pressure after a state investigation into the $6 million construction cost of University House, the new residence he had sought.