Bashar Hanna – Award-Winning University Administrator

Appointed interim president of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in July 2021, Bashar Hanna also serves as interim president at Lock Haven University and president at Bloomsburg University. Described as a “student-focused leader driven by a passion for public higher education” by Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education chancellor Dan Greenstein, Bashar Hanna is leading a team responsible for the Northeast Integration of the three academic institutions. He has been president of Bloomsburg University since 2017. Since then, he has increased student retention by 5 percent and established the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, among other accomplishments.

Bashar Hanna has three decades of experience in higher education and previously served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Delaware Valley University. In addition, he has held leadership roles at Ithaca College, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, DeVry University, and Temple University. He spent a decade at Temple, ultimately serving as associate dean of the College of Science and Technology. Bashar Hanna has also taught biology and mathematics courses throughout his career in academia.

Dr. Hanna has received several awards during his career. He earned the Delaware Valley University Student Government Board Award for Extraordinary Contributions and Unending Service for the Betterment of the Student Body. In addition, he received the Ron Taylor Award for Record Retention at DeVry University and the Merit in Teaching Award three consecutive years at Temple University.

Passionate about community service, Dr. Hanna also earned the Caring Community Award from Bucks County Intermediate Unit in 2015. He is a member of the board of directors for the Columbia – Montour County United Way and a former vice president for Tompkins County Soccer Club’s U10-14 group. In addition, he chaired the Boy Scouts of America’s Bi-annual Jamboree from 2006 to 2009.