Steve Hanson, 2020-21 mentor for AAN Leadership Fellows
Steven Hanson is associate provost and dean of International Studies and Programs (ISP) at Michigan State University.
Hanson leads MSU’s international programming efforts, including multidisciplinary and multicollege research and strategic partnerships with higher education institutions abroad. He oversees more than 20 international offices and programs at MSU, guiding research and activities that will positively impact critical global issues, particularly those related to food, health, environment, and education. Under his leadership, ISP has launched several new global strategic initiatives, including the Alliance for African Partnership, Asia Nexus, and the Global Youth Advancement Network.
Dr. Hanson previously served ISP as interim dean from 2013-2014 and assistant dean from 2009-2013. As assistant dean, he helped establish MSU’s Office of International Research and Collaboration, which assists faculty in developing multidisciplinary proposals.
Dr. Hanson joined MSU in 1988 in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics (AFRE). From 2003-2014, he served as Chair of AFRE, providing leadership to one of the most productive and highly ranked departments in the country. During his time as chairperson, the department built core strengths around integrated research, teaching and outreach programs in agri-food systems and bio-economy, global food systems and international development, environmental and natural resources, and regional development and strategic growth. The department also doubled faculty publications in agricultural economics and economic journals, while also tripling enrollment in undergraduate programs. Dr. Hanson led efforts to diversify the department’s undergraduate programs and nearly tripled external funding support for graduate students.
Dr. Hanson’s research focuses on risk management with financial contracts and the valuation of financial contracts and assets, such as land. He has taught graduate and undergraduate financial economics and management courses and his work has been published in leading journals such as the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and the Journal of Empirical Finance.
Hanson is past chair of the National Association of Agricultural Economics Administrators and a fellow of the Food Systems Leadership Institute. He received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Iowa State University.