Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, president of Commonwealth University

As president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bashar Hanna leverages three decades of higher education administrative experience to oversee the university's financial and marketing operations. He has served in this role since 2017, during which time he doubled the school's endowment from $30 million to $60 million and attracted record freshman classes in 2018 and 2019 via a comprehensive rebranding program. Bashar Hanna concurrently serves as interim president at Lock Haven University and Mansfield University. He was appointed to both roles in 2021 and will oversee efforts to combine the three schools into a single entity. Prior to joining Bloomsburg University, Bashar Hanna served five years as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Delaware Valley University. He also taught biology courses. As an administrator, he helped launch a $60 million capital campaign and initiated the experiential learning program Experience360 to ensure all students receive real-world experience prior to graduation. Revenues increased by 65 percent during Dr. Hanna's tenure at the school. Bashar Hanna previously served as associate provost and lecturer at Ithaca College, where he increased external grant funding by 20 percent and launched its Integrative Core Curriculum. He has also served as interim provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and chief academic officer and dean of academic affairs at DeVry University. Dr. Hanna spent the first decade of his career in various teaching and administrative roles, including assistant vice provost for research and sponsored projects, at Temple University. Dr. Hanna holds a PhD in developmental neurobiology, master's degree in developmental biology, and bachelor of arts in biology from Temple University. He is a past president of the American Association of University Administrators. He has also served on the Eastern Pennsylvania Technology Council and chaired the 2011 National Council on Undergraduate Research Conference.