Peru State College President Dan Hanson has announced his retirement after 12 years, effective at the end of the current academic year.
In making the announcement to the Peru State community, Hanson and his wife called their time at the southeast Nebraska school “the privilege of a lifetime.”
They described Peru State’s outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators as “completely committed to transforming lives through personal and engaging educational experiences,” which made partnering with them “a distinct honor” – adding that they could “think of no better way to have invested our time and our lives.”
Nebraska State College System Chancellor Paul Turman says the Hansons “genuinely embody the servant leadership role of a couple committed to creating a community on the Peru State campus,” and have changed Peru State forever.
Turman, who became chancellor only about 18 months ago, says he’s honored for the opportunity to learn from the couple’s strength and dedication as pillars of the community, even helping fill sandbags for the 2019 floods.
Trustees Board Chair Gary Bieganski of Chadron says Hanson’s ability to lead by example and truly serve the community of Peru will be greatly missed. Bieganski says the board sincerely thanks Hanson for his dedication to the school and southeast Nebraska.
During Hanson’s presidency, Peru State made over $48.6-million dollars in capital improvements, saw a dramatic increase in transfer students completing their degrees, and awarded over 4,800 degrees,
The college had its largest incoming freshman class in over 3 decades last year and has begun an innovative, first of its kind partnership with the Nebraska Dept of Correctional Services to prepare interested students for careers in that field.
The State College System plans to begin a national search for Hanson’s successor later this year.