Southern State appoints new dean of academic affairs

Southern State Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Hanson as the new dean of academic affairs. Dr. Hanson brings a wealth of experience in academic affairs, assessment, accreditation, advising, and grant writing to the College.
 
Dr. Hanson comes to Southern State from Tennessee, where he was most recently the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs for Jackson State Community College.
 
Before his time at Jackson State, Dr. Hanson served as the Chief Academic Officer, Dean, and HLC accreditation liaison for Chatfield College and had a nearly 20-year career as a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at Wittenberg University.
 
Dr. Hanson holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a published author and presenter. 
 
In his new role at Southern State, Dr. Hanson will lead and manage the academic programs, including faculty, student complaints/appeals, program review, and assessment, as well as academic advising and career services. He will lead efforts to improve retention, persistence, and completion.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hanson to our leadership team,” said Dr. Erika Goodwin, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Southern State. “His vision for academic excellence and dedication to student achievement aligns perfectly with our mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to the communities we serve.”
 
Dr. Hanson will succeed Dr. Jeff Montgomery, who retired in May but is back part-time as the College’s CCP Coordinator.