By Jamie Zimchek, Editor
Dean Randy Hanna of Florida State University Panama City (FSU PC) might not be a Panama City native, but his Florida roots run as deep as his love for higher education. Born and raised in a little town called Greensboro, Florida, a blink and you’ll miss it spot off Interstate 10 near Tallahassee, Hanna grew up in bona fide Florida country. His parents owned the last water-powered grist mill in Florida in those days, and ground dried corn into cornmeal for clients in the region. Some of it they’d package up to go out on trucks to destinations all across northern Florida. As a child, Hanna often rode along, even stopping in Panama City on occasion – but it would be several decades before events brought him back to this area more permanently.
When he turned 18, Hanna’s parents sold the mill, and he headed off to the University of Florida (UF) to study agriculture. There, he paid his way through school by working and living in the Swine Unit – he met his future wife at UF, and was relieved to find she wasn’t deterred in the slightest by his unconventional living quarters. With time, his degree shifted to journalism, and he finished with a Bachelor of Science in technical communications with a specialty in agriculture. When he graduated, he and his wife-to-be were married, moving in 1981 to Tallahassee so Hanna could pursue a law degree from Florida State University, “One of the best experiences of my life,” said Hanna. There, his wife found a job and they moved into a rental – for $135 a month. “She gave me a dollar a day for two drinks and a pack of crackers,” Hanna remembered with a chuckle. He often had 20 cents left a day, which he would save up to play two games of Pac-Man at the end of the week.
In 1984, post-graduation with a Juris Doctorate (and High Honors) in hand, Hanna joined a law firm where he would remain until 2011, practicing public finance and infrastructure law; his clients included local governments and universities, for whom he handled complex financial matters. In 1998, he became the managing partner of that law firm. “We were in growth mode and opening offices,” he explained. “I felt like if I was going to be the managing partner, CEO of the law firm, that a MBA would be beneficial.” This led to the next step on his educational journey: a MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University in 2004.
Throughout this time in law, he retained strong ties to higher education. In 1991, he was appointed by the governor to the Board of Trustees for Tallahassee Community College. Over the years, his appointments went on to include other roles with Florida A&M University, and the University of West Florida; in 2011, he stepped in as chancellor for the Florida College System (he worked there with Dr. Holdnak, who is now the president of for Gulf Coast State College, FSU PC’s geographic neighbor). At this point, he decided if he wanted a second career in higher education, a Doctorate of Education might be useful. With this in mind, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, commuting north at least once a month until completion.
Considering this diverse and dedicated educational background, it’s hardly surprising that Hanna was tapped by Florida State University’s President John Thrasher in 2016 to take over at FSU PC as interim dean, a position that soon became permanent. Since Hanna’s tenure started, there have been many positive changes here at Florida State University’s Panama City Campus. For one, they’ve added five new degree programs, including mechanical engineering, hospitality management, and commercial entrepreneurship; they’ve also created master’s degree programs for systems engineering and law enforcement intelligence. More are coming soon, like the campus’s first doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia, but also a degree in computer programming, and a master’s program for financial management and communication. How do they decide on a direction for expansion? “We look at job demands in the area and talk to employers,” explained Hanna. “We do an analysis of need and interest. We also try to build on what our strengths are.” He cites mechanical and systems engineering degrees, roles the local Navy base needs to fill, and law enforcement, as examples of thriving job markets here in our area.
What about those considering returning to school to finish a degree, or plotting a career change? “I can say to just about anybody, there’s a pathway to come to Florida State University,” said Hanna. Which is where another major development at FSU PC comes in: the FSU PC Promise Scholarship, which, with the help of generous donors, came into being just this spring. The Promise Scholarship provides a tuition-free education to students with an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less (and who meet other requirements). It has also made possible a really fantastic feature, the FSU PC Promise hotline, which prospective students can access round the clock. “Anyone can call (850) 770-2411, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” explained Hanna. Callers can find more information on the Promise Scholarship through this hotline, but also, importantly, get help with finding the right degree for the right career.
Need a place to stay while you study? New residential housing is currently under construction, and will provide more affordable student accommodations in the near future. Hanna and his administration are also working hard to bring adults back into higher education, whether they’re adults who simply have a desire to keep learning or those hoping to finish a languishing degree. Programs such as Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FSU (OLLI at FSU), offers an intriguing selection of non-credit classes for older adults, and has recently expanded to this area as OLLI at FSU PC30A.
If you are a prospective student, a returning student, a late-in-life student, or just a dedicated learner, Dean Hanna is here to make sure that your FSU PC experience helps you get the education and experience you need to get set up for success. For more information, contact the PC Promise hotline at (850) 770-2411.
