The Hamline Oracle -- student-led since 1888! -- has said its goodbyes to university President Linda Hanson, who has overseen the state's oldest university since July 2005. As goodbyes go, this one feels less like a fond farewell and more like a grunted harrumpf.
In relatively glowing terms, Hanson's official online biography talks up her efforts to expand the St. Paul-based university's business school offerings and its presence in Minneapolis. And let's not forget the opening of the massive Anderson Center on Snelling Avenue. Her retirement begins in June.
Here's a selection from her bio on the university website:
Under her leadership the university launched an innovative MBA program in 2008, aligned undergraduate and graduate programs in a School of Business (including business, management, public administration and non-profit management) and a School of Education, created centers for Business Law and Health Law, and created an in-residence MFA in Young Adult and Children’s Literature.
...In the past six years new gifts totaling over $70 million have been raised for the university. Also under her leadership, the university has developed a 20-year campus master plan, and the $36M, 75,000 sq. ft. Carol Young Anderson and Dennis L. Anderson University Center at Englewood and Snelling Avenues was dedicated on October 5, 2012.
In 2008 Hamline expanded to a 33,000 sq. ft. location in Minneapolis and now offers master’s level programs in business and education there.
Based on that record of accomplishment, the university's first female president should be the toast of the town, the faculty and the student body, correct?
Well, not exactly. In fact, the Oracle makes note of a few complicated curve balls in her 10-year tenure.
"Hanson is the 2nd-highest paid private college president in the state of Minnesota, receiving a salary higher than that of the President of the United States," it notes. "Her ‘06-’07 pay raise came at a particularly tumultuous time in university budget talks." That said, the Oracle notes she did an able job at fundraising.
As for the School of Business that she expanded into Minneapolis: "enrollment is currently faltering."
Meanwhile, the law school is presently merging with William Mitchell College of Law in face of declining law school enrollment trends nationwide.
Hanson and the university officially held a neutral stance on the state's proposed anti-gay marriage "marriage amendment" in 2012, though the university later drew flak from conservative groups for rescinding a job offer to former gubernatorial candidate (now Congressman) Tom Emmer after some allegedly anti-gay remarks.
There's one omission in the news piece: The Oracle makes no mention of the Hanson administration's tug-of-war with neighboring homeowners and even the offspring of a former university president over neighborhood home demolitions.
The razed homes -- which included the former president's mansion at Simpson and Hewitt -- raised the ire of plenty of nearby residents, inspiring tough talks with the university, which has released only tentative, general plans for what will replace the houses. After some discussion, Hamline eventually agreed to a one-year stay on demolitions. The demolition moratorium expires in October.
The university announced Hanson's retirement plans a year ago.
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