PASADENA, Calif. - Announced recently by the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) office, Dr. Paul Hanson of Cal Lutheran has been honored as the 2015 Distinguished Service Award recipient. Dr. Hanson has served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for close to 20 years, sharing his depth of experience and wisdom with the SCIAC and helped to forge the course for Division III athletics in Southern California.
The SCIAC Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has promoted collegiate athletics and the concept of the student-athlete as a coach, administrator or long-term member of the conference and/or otherwise been involved with the service of college athletics on campus. Through his long-term service to collegiate athletics with the SCIAC and Cal Lutheran, Dr. Hanson has contributed a supportive and compassionate commitment in offering his own professional and personal expertise and assistance to conference programs, services and member institutions.
Dr. Hanson becomes the first recipient from Cal Lutheran since the inception of the award in 1985 and the 27th person honored overall.
During Dr. Hanson's tenure as a FAR, he served the SCIAC in a leadership role as the Chair of the Faculty Athletic Committee. Dr. Hanson's insights and deep thoughtful stewardship on controversial and complex subjects regarding athletics and their role in higher education within Division III has helped the conference navigate the important balance between athletic participation and academic achievement.
"The role of the Faculty Athletic Representative is crucial in Division III athletics through the oversight of academic integrity of athletics and in the well-being of the student-athlete," stated SCIAC Executive Director, Lorin Sanchez.
Dr. Hanson has been a key advisor to the conference on a variety of important and transformative subjects that over the course of many years have helped to fashion a foundation of excellence. Issues such as re-alignment, the meanings and philosophies of Division III athletics in higher education, student-athlete recruitment, conference championships and tournaments and conference membership expansion were all addressed with Dr. Hanson's keen insight and capable guidance.
"Dr. Hanson has been a tremendous advocate for students and the importance of keeping sports as an added educational component to their collegiate experience, CLU Director of Athletics Dan Kuntz said, "The faculty leadership and mentorship of coaches and athletes will last for generations to come at Cal Lutheran."
As a former Division III student-athlete at Luther College, Dr. Hanson earned Summa Cum Laude honors on the way to earning his Bachelor's Degree. He subsequently went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Twice a Fulbright Scholar in India, Dr. Hanson's research has focused on Islamic history in South Asia, especially the relationship of religion and political legitimacy. Other national fellowships and awards have enabled him to study in London, Sri Lanka and Jordan. Dr. Hanson has won the President's Award for Teaching Excellence at Cal Lutheran, has served as co-director of Cal Lutheran's international studies major and coordinator of the Global Studies Program as well as previously taught at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and Agra University in India. He is a founding board member of the South Asian Studies Association.
Hanson is often found at a variety of sporting events on and off campus and his involvement will surely be missing the coming years.
"It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Hanson during his years as a Faculty Athletic Representative," stated Sanchez. "The conference itself and the student-athletes we represent have and will continue to benefit from Dr. Hanson's commitment to excellence in academics and athletics."
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