Director of ORL retires after 24 years
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 9, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Alan Hanson Alan Hanson, shown here
impersonating Jimmy Carter in a mid-1980s skit.
By Jenny Blake
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]
When Alan Hanson first pulled up in front of Dykstra Hall 37
years ago, it was one of four lone buildings standing in a far-off
corner of the campus. Now he bids farewell to the Hill.
Hanson, director of the Office of Residential Life, announced
last week his decision to retire.
“It’s time to let someone else have the fun and
adventure that I’ve enjoyed so much,” he said.
“It’s also time for me to enjoy some of the other
opportunities that come along at this stage of life.”
Michael Foraker, director of business and administration for
housing and hospitality services, said he values Hanson as a
colleague and that he will “certainly be missed.”
“Alan is extremely dedicated to what he does on behalf of
the campus and the students,” Foraker said. “He has
been instrumental in helping UCLA develop what many people think is
one of the top housing programs in the country.”
Hanson still remembers moving into Dykstra Hall as a new senior
residence adviser with his wife at age 23. Two years later, he
started a program that he calls one of his proudest
accomplishments.
The Faculty-in-Residence program, unique to UCLA among the UCs,
allows faculty to live in on-campus housing under the condition
that they work with students and participate in educational
programs.
One of Hanson’s most rewarding responses to the program
came last year, when FIR members were in the process of reapplying
to live on campus. After each gave a five-minute presentation about
themselves to a student audience, they all received a standing
ovation.
“Northwest Auditorium just came alive,” Hanson said.
“It was very rewarding to see that this idea had finally
reached a point where student appreciation was at the level of a
standing ovation.”
The FIR program is an example of the kind of educational
environment Hanson helped create at UCLA. He said his goal has
always been to integrate in-classroom and out-of-classroom life as
much as possible, even if it is in an informal way.
The Covel Academic Commons building, Northwest Auditorium,
Bradley International Hall and components of the De Neve complex
were all projects Hanson inspired to link academics with life in
the dorms.
“It used to be a real mental challenge for people to think
that this area of the campus, with four isolated residence halls,
would have anything to do with the educational part of
campus,” Hanson said. “Forging that synergy has been a
lifelong process.”
Hanson has put as much work into creating a strong
behind-the-scenes working environment as he has into improving
residential programs.
“I can’t say enough good things about our
staff,” Hanson said. “One of the great excitements is
being able to attract a high caliber staff to achieve those goals
with you.”
Several members of ORL have moved on to become directors at
other schools, such as UC Berkeley, Stanford and University of
Miami. Creating an office environment in which people can become
effective and develop enough for those major campuses is another
merit Hanson found in his time at UCLA.
Before becoming ORL director, Hanson served as assistant dean
and associate dean of the office. After 24 years as director, he
said he feels ready to step down.
Upon leaving, Hanson said he will spend time with family, pursue
other interests and do small projects with UCLA.
“I’ve given myself permission not to have a hard and
fast plan,” he said.
Interviews will be held this month to appoint a new director,
and the final decision will be made this summer, according to
Foraker.
Students and other administrators will form a committee to help
the interviewing process and make hiring recommendations.
Foraker said it will be hard to replace Hanson because of his
strong history with UCLA, but that he is confident the change will
be smooth.
“The transition needs to be seamless to the
students,” Foraker said. “Hopefully as a campus we will
find and select the right person and move forward without skipping
a beat.”
