Purdue News

July 7, 1998 IPFW appoints interim vice chancellor for academic affairs FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Susan B. Hannah has accepted the position of interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She comes to IPFW with more than 15 years' experience in higher-education administration. Hannah is an associate professor of public administration and directs the Master of Public Administration Program in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Western Michigan University. She has held several administrative positions at Western Michigan, including director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration 1994-96, assistant vice president for academic affairs 1984-92, and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 1978-82. She also was acting vice chancellor for academic affairs in 1996-97 at Indiana University Kokomo. Hannah's achievements at Western Michigan include directing the successful accreditation of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, establishing the Nonprofit Leadership and Administration Program, coordinating the Graduate Certificates in Health Care Administration, and organizing the university's first weekend college. While at IU Kokomo, she proposed and implemented the reorganization of academic advising and support programs and led grant-writing efforts to enhance retention activities at the university. Hannah has been active in state-level public administration. Gov. John Engler appointed her to the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority 1991-94, which is responsible for managing the state's financial-aid programs and guaranteeing all student loans in Michigan. From 1990 to 1992, she chaired the Michigan Higher Education Institute, funded by the state legislature to study higher-education issues in Michigan. In January 1998, Hannah received the Dean's Appreciation Award at Western Michigan. From 1991 to 1992, she was a fellow of the Academic Leadership Academy of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Hannah is a member of the grant-writing and governance committee of "Building Bridges Between the University and the Nonprofit Community," a $400,000 grant program of the Kellogg Foundation. Other grant-writing experience includes securing $160,000 for enhancing retention activities at IU Kokomo and funding for a citizen satisfaction survey with the city of Kalamazoo. Hannah has published numerous articles in professional journals, most recently in the Journal of Higher Education ("The Higher Education Act of 1992: Skills, Constraints, and the Politics of Higher Education," September/October 1996), Productivity and Management Review ("The Correlates of Innovation: Lessons in Best Practice," December 1995), and National Civic Review ("Writing Home Rule Charters in Michigan: Current Practices in Constitution-Making," summer 1995). Hannah has taught undergraduate courses on state and local government, judicial process and behavior, and public administration. Her graduate-level teaching includes the political environment of public administration, administration theory, human-resources administration, and research design. She also has researched extensively in decision-making, citizen participation, city charters, political economy, higher-education policy-making, and conflict resolution. Hannah has presented seminars and workshops on negotiation skills, local government, and higher education and public policy. Most recently she presented "Form and Function in Michigan Local Government" at the 1998 Midwest Political Science Association meeting. Hannah earned a Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University in 1972. She received a master's degree from Harvard University in 1965 and a bachelor's in history from Agnes Scott College in 1964. Hannah follows Fenwick W. English, who resigned as IPFW vice chancellor for academic affairs to take a teaching position in Iowa. "We are delighted to have Susan Hannah on board at IPFW," said Chancellor Michael A. Wartell. "She is an advocate for academic programs and brings valuable insights to the administration. We are fortunate to have attracted a person with her administrative experience and acumen." Writer: Irene A. Walters, IPFW director of university relations and communications, (219) 481-6104 Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page