The College of William and Mary announced that it named Stephen E. Hanson as the new vice provost for international affairs and director of the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies Friday.
“I’m a big believer in getting a full understanding of the situation you’re in before launching any initiatives,” he said. “I’ll be meeting with deans, meeting with faculty, meeting with students and with community members around Williamsburg.”
Hanson said his first year at the College will be devoted primarily to getting accustomed to his new surroundings.
“I am deeply honored and personally thrilled to accept the position of vice provost for international affairs and director of the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies,” Hanson said in a press release.
Hanson shared his excitement about coming to the College.
“I feel like this is a really great fit, and my wife and I really look forward to joining the William and Mary community,” he said.
Before coming to the College, Hanson served as vice provost for global affairs and the Herbert J. Ellison professor in the department of political science at the University of Washington.
“I come to the position with over a decade of experience in international education,” Hanson said. “I’m [also] really devoted to teaching myself and won a distinguished teaching award at the University of Washington.”
The new vice provost received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1985 and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. From 2000 to 2008, he served as the director of the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies.
Hanson will oversee all international programs, serving as an advocate for international efforts of all five schools at the College by expanding existing programs and implementing new ones.
“It’s a position that’s designed to promote internationalization in all its aspects at the College of William and Mary,” Hanson said. “We’ll get some great opportunities to get the world to know about this great
institution and its history.”
Hanson will be reporting to College Provost Michael R. Halleran to help accomplish some of the College’s key initiatives.
“Adding an educator of Stephen’s background and experience is an enormously positive step in our continued efforts to expand William and Mary’s international presence,” Halleran said in a press release.
Hanson is currently finishing his year at the University of Washington and will assume the role of vice provost Aug 1.
