by McKayla Holson, Editorial Editor
Dr. Janet Cunningham recently appointed Dr. Bo Hannaford as the executive vice president of the university.
This means Hannaford, should Cunningham ever need to be absent from a meeting or an event, can stand in her place.
“I’m honored that she feels like if I needed to step into a meeting for her I could handle that,” Hannaford said. According to Hannaford, nothing else is really changing.
He still has his typical duties, he still oversees the academic affairs, and there is no additional duties as the executive vice president besides assisting her in her presidential duties.
“I’m excited to be named that [executive vice president], but it’s not changing what I’m doing day to day that much,” Hannaford said.
Hannaford said that, if someone looked at it in terms of a flow chart, he would be the number two person.
“The thing about our university which is unique, is we’re such a small administrative team we all talk anyway, we all meet when for decisions,” Hannaford said. “The president does a great job of doing that with all of the senior staff level people.”
Hannaford said the title change really just establishes who would ultimately stand in Cunningham’s place if she ever had to be gone for an event.
“I’ve done it before so it’s not that big of a change, but it’s definitely still exciting to be put in that position.”
“Our team here is so good that it’s an honor to work with everyone,” Hannaford said. “You know you look at someone like Dr. Pecha on the financial side who has been here a long time and has a great understanding. Dr. Bell, dean of faculty; Caleb Mosburg, dean of student services; our athletic director, who has a lot of experience on both sides of the house academically and athletically; and then adding somebody like Ms. Martin and her role. We just have a good team and I think that’s what makes Northwestern successful. Plus having a great president.”