Dr. Barbara Hanson, LDCC Chancellor, steps down

UPDATE: June 23, 2016 at 5:30pm

Chancellor Barbra Hanson delivered the news via email that she 's leaving Louisiana Delta Community College.

Devaente Parks a student says he was shocked at the news.

"I didn't foresee it coming, I didn't want her to leave. We've talked a few times and I've been in her office I guess you could say I know her," says Parks.

Hanson's first grandchild was born in January and now she wants to move to Arizona to be closer to her family there.

Associate Professor Alton Braddock says Hanson will be greatly missed.

"Hate to see her go, but i felt like personally she was an outstanding administrator," says Braddock.

Hanson says she didn't come to this decision lightly.

"I just don't want to lose the opportunity to have time for my husband and I to have time with our granddaughter and she's just to cute and they keep sending me this pictures so my husband and I have really been struggling with the decision," says Hanson.

From adding several new programs like the Truck Driving Academy to reducing the college's debt by $2 million, Hanson says she proud of her work.

"We've done some incredible things and again it's the team it's not just me and sometimes I have some ideas and sometimes they have some ideas," says Hanson.

Students and staff say they don't want to see her go and just hope the next chancellor will continue her legacy.

We talked with the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges president who says at this time the board will be reflecting and pausing on everything to figure out which direction to go, but plans to start the national search for a new chancellor in a couple weeks.

It's unclear when Hanson will leave the school but she says it's all about ensuring the transition goes smoothly. \

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Original Story:

Louisiana Delta Community College Chancellor Barbara Hanson has announced her resignation Thursday morning.

Hanson and her husband just recently became grandparents and the two hope to spend more time with their grandchild in Arizona.

Hanson has served as the leader of a campus system that covers 2100 square miles and serves almost 10,000 students a year.

Hanson says she will assist in making the transition to new leadership smooth. To read more about Hanson's accomplishments and her announcement see the release attached to this story.

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Today, Dr. Barbara Hanson, chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) announced that she will be seeking new job opportunities that will allow her to spend more time with her first and only grandchild.

Hanson, who began at LDCC in January of 2013, made the announcement in an open letter to the college community. "My husband and I were blessed with our first grandchild this year. I never knew that I could so deeply and completely fall in love all over again," said Hanson. "The challenge for us has been that our grandchild lives in Arizona which is not an easy trek from Monroe, Louisiana. After much discussion, my husband and I have decided that life is too short and we really want to have more flexible access to visit our grandchild."

Hanson has already begun working with the Board of Supervisors and LCTCS System President Monty Sullivan to help ensure a smooth and seamless transition of leadership. "I am so thankful for all of the support that I have felt from everyone here in Louisiana and, at the same time, I am also excited about the future," said Hanson.

"On behalf of the Board and students of Louisiana Delta Community College, I want to thank Dr. Hanson for her leadership and commitment," said LCTCS Board Chair, Woody Oge. "She faced many challenges, and yet was able to overcome them. We wish her all the best."

"We are grateful to Dr. Hanson for the steady leadership she has provided Louisiana Delta Community College," said LCTCS System President, Monty Sullivan. "She led the college through tough financial times all while continuing to focus on the needs of students and working to deliver a skilled workforce for business and industry and the Northeast Louisiana community."

Under Dr. Hanson's leadership, LDCC has achieved many accomplishments, among them are:

+ Full reaffirmation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, June of 2016,

+ Exceeded all of its Our Louisiana 2020 Goals to include serving over 10,000 students this year,

+ Passed the Louisiana Board of Regents GRAD ACT,

+ Secured over five million dollars in Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP) grants thereby providing training and service to regional and statewide affiliated business and industry partners, and

+ Moved the college from an inherited 3.1-million-dollar deficit to less than a 1 million-dollar deficit in two years without reducing programs or services.