Office of the President

Mansfield University

Since 1857, Mansfield University has faithfully served our surrounding region, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the world beyond as an affordable access point for higher education.  Initially formed as a Classical Seminary, Mansfield evolved into a state-supported Normal School, a State Teachers College, a comprehensive State College, and finally the university that we are today.  Throughout our rich history, Mansfield has always focused on providing a welcoming, supporting environment for our students as they pursue their educational goals.  Students who select Mansfield as their college of choice do so for many reasons, but most often students tell us that they choose Mansfield because they enjoy our small-school environment, the quality of our academic programs, the personal attention they receive from our dedicated faculty and staff, the beauty of our campus and surrounding countryside, and the comfort of our modern residence halls.

At Mansfield, students may choose from a wide variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and professional fields of study.  Our highest enrolled baccalaureate programs include Biology, Business, Criminal Justice Administration, Education, Music, Nursing, and Psychology.  Because of our small campus atmosphere, students have many opportunities to work closely with our faculty on experiential learning projects and collaborative research that might not otherwise be possible at a larger school.   Many of our students pursue internships in conjunction with their academic course of study, and our Career Center in Alumni Hall provides our students with all the resources they need to secure internships, prepare for job interviews, and make a successful transition to their desired careers.

Students may also choose from a wide variety of student clubs, organizations, and other service activities to support the university and the community.  Mansfield’s study abroad program enables students to participate in exchanges with 150 universities in 50 countries; we also offer short-term, faculty-led study abroad experiences, including a very popular one that involves field work in Belize.  Finally, our competitive athletics teams, including 12 NCAA Division II sports and our Sprint Football team, embody the spirit and tenacity that makes us all identify proudly as Mansfield “Mounties.”

Dr. Bashar Hanna

Bashar W. Hanna, Ph.D., was named interim president of Mansfield University effective July 30, 2021.

Dr. Hanna has served as president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania since July of 2017, and as interim president pf Lock Haven University since February 5, 2021. At Bloomsburg, Dr. Hanna’s focus on student success has led to improving student retention by 5 percent in just two years. He helped to double Bloomsburg Foundation’s endowment growth to $60 million, and established the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Hanna serves as the lead for the Northeast Integration process currently underway that aims to integrate Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Bloomsburg universities.

Prior to his roles at Mansfield, Lock Haven and Bloomsburg, Hanna was a professor of biology and formerly vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.

As the vice president for academic affairs at Delaware Valley from 2011 to 2016, Hanna helped implement a $60 million capital campaign; launched four bachelor degrees, four master’s degrees and the institution’s first doctoral degree. He also guided the institution through a successful change to university status and created articulation agreements with five community colleges leading to a significant increase in transfer students. Additionally, under his leadership, graduate enrollment increased by 65 percent. Dr. Hanna also launched Experience360 (E360), an experiential learning and career services program giving every student real-world experiences.

Prior to Delaware Valley, Hanna served as associate provost at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. There he launched the college’s Integrative Core, increased external grant funding 20 percent and co-authored the institution’s academic strategic plan, IC 20/20.

Dr. Hanna served as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and interim provost at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania from 2005 to 2009. At Kutztown, he helped increase enrollment 11 percent, while also improving the academic profile of incoming classes. Hanna also conceived and assembled the school’s inaugural Board of Visitors, raised funds to create 22 new scholarships, increased tenured-track/tenured faculty from 64 to 77 percent and launched new programs including a minor in German and Bachelor of Arts in religious studies.

Dr. Hanna earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology; his master’s degree in developmental biology and his Ph.D. in developmental neurobiology from Temple University.

Hanna was also the chief academic officer and dean of academic affairs for DeVry University – Pennsylvania leading the launch of operations in five sites in Pennsylvania. He led the efforts to secure permanent authorization to operate in the Commonwealth, as well as gaining accreditation for the university’s engineering technology program.

Before DeVry, he served his alma mater, Temple University, in various capacities.  He was the associate dean of the College of Science and Technology. As associate dean, Dr. Hanna co-chaired the College’s strategic planning committee, helped increased undergraduate enrollment by 35 percent and graduate enrollment by 70 percent. He led the effort to secure a multi-million dollar, multi-institution, National Science Foundation grant – the Philadelphia Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP).

In his career, he has garnered more than $8 million in external funding for projects, programs and scholarships.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Drug Discovery Institute, the American Association of University Administrators and is an editorial board member of the Journal of Education Management and served on the board of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County.

As an active member of his community, Hanna has earned the Caring Community Award from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and the Outstanding Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America – Minsi Trails.

Dr. Hanna is a passionate educator, and in addition to his administrative assignments, he continues to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in biology, cell biology, neurobiology, gerontology, biotechnology, mathematics and bioethics.

He and his wife Deanna are the parents of two children, Christian and Lauren.