Community members welcome NSU president at local receptions

Tahlequah, Okla. - Campus and community members gathered in Tahlequah and Muskogee on Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, respectively, to welcome Northeastern State University’s new president, Rodney Hanley, and his family to the university.

“It’s an honor for me to be serving as NSU’s 20th president,” Hanley said. “I am humbled by the opportunity and I want to say thank you.”

Hanley comes to NSU from Michigan after serving most recently as President of Lake Superior State University and brings years of leadership experience in higher education. Hanley has extensive experience in strategic planning, student, faculty, community and tribal relations, financial and enrollment management and fundraising. He is joined on campus by his wife Sara and sons, Harry and Edward.

Hanley is a first-generation college student and knows firsthand the impact of a college degree.

“My dad was a factory worker in Decatur, Illinois,” Hanley said. “So, going to college it's not just sort of changing a life, which it does. It's also changing the trajectory of entire generations of a family. That's what we do at Northeastern State, and we're really proud of that.”

Hanley was named NSU’s 20th president this summer by the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Regents after an in-depth search of candidates. His experience as a collaborative leader helped identify him as the right choice for NSU.

“I know, and the Board of Regents know, that Dr. Hanley will be an outstanding president,” RUSO Regent Connie Reilly said. “He will continue the heritage that we have here at Northeastern of engaging with our alumni, with our students, with our community, with the tribal nations and with our campuses.”

The series of welcome receptions is sponsored by some of NSU’s community partners, including the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, Cherokee Nation, Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, Muskogee Public Schools and Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.

The third and final welcome reception for Hanley will be held in Broken Arrow on Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Arts @ 302 located at 302 S Main St. All community members are encouraged to attend.