Dr. Bashar Hanna

Dr. Bashar Hanna is a higher education administrator and the current President of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He has served in various leadership roles at Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University and Ithaca College, Kutztown University and Temple University. Dr. Hanna has earned several awards, including the Caring Community Award, the Ron Taylor Award, the Delaware Valley University Student Government Board Award, The Boys Scouts of America Service Award.
==Early life and education==
Hanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Master of Arts in Developmental Biology, and a PhD in Developmental Neurobiology, all from Temple University.
==Career==
Dr. Hanna began his career as an assistant director of the Ronald McNair Faculty-in-Training Program at Temple University in 1991. He later worked for the university in several capacities: as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Teaching Fellow, an Instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, Founding Director of the Math & Science Resource Center, Assistant Vice Provost for Research and Sponsored Programs, and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Technology.
After serving at Temple University for more than 10 years, Dr. Hanna went on to become the Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Academic Affairs at DeVry University, where he spent three years. He subsequently served four years as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Thereafter, Dr. Hanna joined Ithaca College as an Associate Provost and Lecturer, spending two years there.
Dr. Hanna later joined Delaware Valley University as Vice President for Academic Affairs and as a Professor of Biology, where helped implement a $60 million capital campaign and launched the school's first-ever doctoral degree program. Under his leadership, the university increased its graduate school revenues by 65% and its graduate student enrollment by 60%.
It was in 2017 that Dr. Hanna was appointed the 19th president of Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. He has launched a comprehensive rebranding campaign for the university, doubled its endowment from $40 million to $80 million, and presided over record freshman classes in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, he was appointed as the Interim President of Lock Haven University and Mansfield University. He led the team that integrated the three universities into a single accredited university with three locations called Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He was named President of the newly integrated university in July 2022. 
Dr. Hanna is a past president of the American Association of University Administrators. He has also served as chair of the Peer Review Team for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Education.
==Books and Publications==
Dr. Hanna has edited four textbooks and authored articles that have appeared in journals such as the Journal of Higher Education Management, American Society of Cell Biology Abstracts, and Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
==Awards==
Dr. Hanna has received several awards during his career. He earned the Delaware Valley University Student Government Board Award for his extraordinary contributions to the student body. In addition, he received the Ron Taylor Award for Record Retention at DeVry University and the Merit in Teaching Award for three consecutive years at Temple University.
Passionate about community service, Dr. Hanna also earned the Caring Community Award from Bucks County Intermediate Unit in 2015.
==Personal life==
Dr. Hanna and his wife, Deanna, are both first-generation college graduates. They are proud and dedicated parents of two children, Christian and Lauren.
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* Official website
* Official website
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Category:Educational administrators
Category:Temple University alumni
Category:Presidents of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania