Mark Hanshaw, J.D., Ph.D., has been named interim dean of the School of Arts & Letters, after serving as associate dean of the school and director of the institutional Quality Enhancement Program.

In his role, Hanshaw will oversee curricular and academic matters, as they relate to the diverse departments and programs that comprise the School of Arts & Letters, and as they affect the many students pursuing majors within the school.

“Mark loves the academic environment and his work with both students and colleagues,” Allen Henderson, provost and senior vice president, said. “He has been an enthusiastic catalyst for curricular innovation on our campus, always with the aim of expanding opportunities for our students." 

In addition to his twin roles as associate dean and QEP director, Hanshaw has served as chair of the Faculty Assembly and chair of the Department of Religion, Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies. 

“I truly enjoy playing a role in the process of building a stronger educational environment; one that better serves our students’ needs now and opens new opportunities the for future,” Hanshaw said. 

Hanshaw is co-author of the text, “From East to West: A Comparative Study of the World’s Great Religions,” and has been actively involved in international studies and study abroad programs on campus. He previously worked as an attorney and is a past recipient of both the Rotary International Fellowship and the Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship.