Hanner looks back fondly at career with EIU - Health Topics

CHARLESTON ? Mary Anne Hanner has experienced many emotionalmoments in her long career at Eastern Illinois University, but it?sthe thought of her first day as an EIU student in 1968 that stillmakes her misty-eyed.

?The first day I drove here as a student, I felt very special -very privileged to have the opportunity to go to school,? Hannersaid in an EIU press release. ?The first day I drove to work here,I thought of how privileged I am. I get teary thinking aboutit.?

More tears are likely to fall as she leaves campus Thursday, as herretirement ends a phase of her EIU affiliation that has includedearning two degrees, teaching as a faculty member and ultimatelyserving as dean of the College of Sciences.

Growing up in a large family in rural Oakland, Hanner always knewshe wanted to be a teacher. Her high school guidance counselorfirst steered her toward speech-language pathology. Hanner wasfamiliar with the field through family members? experiences.

After graduating as valedictorian at Oakland High School, Hannerbegan summer courses at EIU. Her first class was held on the secondfloor of old Main ? the same floor that now houses heroffice.

She graduated from EIU in 1972 and became the speech-languagepathologist for the Altamont and Beecher City school districts.after earning her master?s in 1974, she began teaching in theArcola school district.

Hanner had no plans to leave the K-12 school setting until shereceived a call from former EIU classmate Jill Nilsen, whoencouraged Hanner to look at an opening on the EIU faculty.

So, in 1981, Hanner headed back to her alma mater as an assistantprofessor, a position that allowed her to continue to deal withschool-age children while molding future professionals in aclinical setting.

At the same time, she served as student teaching coordinator,giving her the opportunity to travel to area schools to oversee EIUstudents? work in the classrooms while interacting with hercolleagues.

Some of the biggest highlights of her career were quiet milestones- ?those moments that nobody knows about except the client and thestudents working and me, when we used therapy that was especiallyeffective,? she said.

Hanner first moved into an administrative role in 1985, when shewas named director of EIU?s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

She earned her doctorate from Indiana State University in 1994 andcontinued to climb the EIU administrative ladder when she was nameddepartment chair in 1997. that was ?the golden time? of herprofessional life because she was teaching and interacting withstudents and faculty every day as chair, she said.

So, she was taken off-guard in 2000 when she was asked to considerbecoming the dean of the College of Sciences.

?That was not on my radar,? Hanner said.

Still, she accepted the challenge. Looking back at the past 11years, Hanner said she is proud of the professional growth sheexperienced and what the College of Sciences has accomplished underher guidance.

As she reflects on a list of accomplishments, service and awardsthat fill several pages, Hanner expressed gratitude for theopportunities she has been provided.

?I?m very fortunate to have had a fulfilling career at a university20 miles from my hometown,? Hanner said, adding that having herfamily close by allowed her, as a mother of two, to ?do some thingsin my career that I would not have been able to do.?

Hanner also praised her husband Dale, her high school sweetheartwith whom she just celebrated 40 years of marriage, ?who is verytolerant of my very busy schedule.?

Tags: Oakland High School, eastern illinois university, Mary Anne Hanner, student teaching coordinator, Beecher City, family members, College of Sciences
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 at 4:55 pm and is filed under Speech Pathology. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://kdlepenica.com/speech-pathology/hanner-looks-back-fondly-at-career-with-eiu/

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