Former BSU President Granted Emeritus Status

Dr. Richard A. Hanson, who served six years as president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College between 2010-2016, was granted president emeritus status by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees during its Oct. 19 meeting.

Hanson’s tenure in Bemidji included leadership of BSU’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, Imagine Tomorrow, which concluded in June and surpassed its initial goal by raising $36.54 million for scholarships and academic investment. He also placed renewed emphasis on international recruitment and education abroad, and championed BSU’s distinction as a north woods campus that offers residential students a transformative college experience.

“My time at BSU was fantastic,” Hanson said. “It was really fun to be with the board today and be recognized for what a whole team of people got accomplished over the course of six years.”

Hanson was recommended for emeritus status by system Chancellor Steven Rosenstone.