Long-time administrator and faculty member Joe Hanna will soon lead the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business as interim dean.

Hanna, who has served as the college’s associate dean of research and outreach since 2011, will assume the new role on January 1, 2018. Auburn University President Steven Leath approved Hanna’s appointment. He will succeed outgoing Harbert College of Business Dean and Wells Fargo Professor Bill Hardgrave, who will begin his service as Auburn University’s provost and vice president for academic affairs in January.

As associate dean of research and outreach, Hanna has led a successful expansion of the research enterprise of the Harbert College.  His duties have included growing and managing the college’s doctoral programs, facilitating the faculty promotion and tenure process, and enhancing college research and outreach centers that generated over $2 million in revenue in 2017.

“I am honored to serve the Harbert College of Business in this capacity,” Hanna said. “It’s an exciting time for the Harbert College. Our future is incredibly bright. We have experienced sustained enrollment growth since 2010, expanded our research capabilities through the creation of new centers and the hiring of additional high-quality faculty and improved our alumni and industry engagement. We look forward to building on the momentum generated during Dr. Hardgrave’s tenure as dean.”

Hanna joined the college in 1999 as an assistant professor of supply chain management. He earned tenure in 2001 and the rank of full professor in 2006. In 2011, he earned the Regions Bank professorship in supply chain management.

Hanna earned three degrees from New Mexico State University – bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy and a doctorate in business administration with a concentration in supply chain management. He has been an author or co-author on more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, has served as an expert witness on supply chain related issues and has participated in government-funded transportation research.

Before entering academia, Hanna worked for Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips), Phillips 66 Chemical Company (now ChevronPhillips Chemical Company) and Coopers and Lybrand (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers). 

The search for an interim dean was guided by a committee of Harbert College faculty, staff and students, led by College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Calvin Johnson. Auburn University will launch a search for a permanent dean in 2018.