Richard Hanson Elected President of ELCA's Waldorf College

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Richard A. Hanson was elected March 30 to become the 14th president of Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, effective June 1. Hanson is currently dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Waldorf College board of regents named Hanson to succeed the Rev. Thomas L. Jolivette, who resigned Dec. 1, 2004. Waldorf and Augustana are two of the 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
"I am honored and thrilled to be given the privilege of joining the Waldorf College community," Hanson said. "It is exciting to think about building on the strengths of the Waldorf community as we establish a compelling vision of the future of the college. Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth) says it best: Together we will forge a distinctive and powerful educational experience for our students. I am excited about the challenge and I am eager to begin the journey."
"I am very pleased that we have been able to engage Dr. Hanson as the next president of Waldorf, and I am looking forward to his becoming a part of the Waldorf community," said Roger Espe, Des Moines, Iowa, board and search committee chair. "His successful experience as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Augustana College has helped to make him particularly qualified to lead Waldorf through its final transition to a four-year institution."
"Dr. Hanson is a consensus builder with high academic expectations and is most comfortable with the mission and culture of a small, church-affiliated residential liberal arts college," Espe said. "He understands the importance of financial advancement and fund raising and is deeply committed to the college and to its mission."
Hanson earned bachelor's and master's degrees from North Dakota State University, Fargo. He earned a doctorate from the University of California, Davis.
Hanson has more than 20 years of university teaching and research experience, earned tenure at two colleges and achieved the rank of full professor followed by a variety of senior leadership positions.
His educational career began in 1974 as an assistant professor at California State University, Chico.
In 1980 he accepted a faculty position at North Dakota State University and served there for 15 years. In addition to teaching, Hanson served three years as the associate vice president for academic affairs, and one year as interim vice president for academic affairs and as interim dean for the college of university studies.
Hanson served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Augustana for 10 years. He also served as a professor of sociology.
Hanson assisted in the formation of the current development campaign at Augustana College. He is an active fundraiser for the Center for Western Studies, and he had an active role in planning, designing and creating a fundraising network for the College Center for the Visual Arts and in the remodeling/renovation of the Gilbert Science Center, all at Augustana.
Hanson serves as a member of the board of directors for the Center for Western Studies, member of the advisory board for the Children's Theatre Company of Sioux Falls, advisor to the Augustana College board of regents and advisor to the board of directors for the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. He was a member and president of the board of directors for the Village Family Service Center, Fargo, N.D.
Hanson and his wife Diane are the parents of three grown daughters.
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The homepage for Waldorf College is a http://www.waldorf.edu/ on the Web.

*Marie Oleson is director for public relations for Waldorf College.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news