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Leading the Way for Northwestern - Dr. Bo Hannaford & Family
Leading the Way for Northwestern
by John Allen
A new era in leadership began on July 1, 2022, as Dr. Bo Hannaford became the 20th president of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
“I was humbled when I was given the news,” Dr. Hannaford said. “I have great respect for this institution and it means a great deal to me. But I continue to be aware of the huge responsibility.”
Growing up in Alva and being employed at Northwestern since 2011, Dr. Hannaford has a keen understanding and a strong appreciation for the impact the university has on the future of Northwest Oklahoma and the world beyond. His introduction to Northwestern started as a young child, as his two grandfathers worked at Northwestern.
“I was introduced early to Northwestern, attending countless sporting events, concerts and plays.”
Dr. Hannaford received his bachelor’s degree in social science at Northwestern in 1992 and followed with earning his master’s degree in education in 1996. His early career in education was spent coaching and teaching at the high school and college levels for 11 years. He eventually served as a coach and principal in the Ponca City Public Schools for seven years.
Balancing the responsibilities of a full-time career and family, he earned his doctorate from Walden University and eventually returned to Northwestern. Before stepping into the office of president, Dr. Hannaford served in the roles of division chair, dean, vice president and executive vice president.
Servant and transitional leadership Dr. Hannaford’s capacity for strong leadership is noted by a friend and colleague, Dr. Steve Lohmann, former executive vice president at Northwestern.
Bo Hannaford (right) and his future brother-in-law Tim Taylor, ‘93, are ready for a Ranger football game.
“Bo is the type of person who works well with others and does not hesitate to take on responsibility,” Dr. Lohmann said. “He is a man of his word and possesses strong integrity. Northwest Oklahoma can rest assured that it has a gentleman who will give his all to move NWOSU forward.”
Dr. Hannaford shared he is grateful for the mentorship and advice he has been offered throughout his career.
“Over the years, I represented President Janet Cunningham (Northwestern’s 19th president who retired in June 2022) on many occasions, and these opportunities provided me with a unique perspective of her role as the president. I am grateful for her and the encouragement she provided.”
The passion for Northwestern led Dr. Hannaford to participate in fundraising opportunities for the benefit of the university. He played a critical role in securing a $5 million-plus gift to establish the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Northwestern, which was launched in the fall of 2017. Northwestern’s first doctorate-level program places an emphasis on rural health care in Oklahoma. The DNP program allows nurses with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to earn their nurse practitioner degrees. To date, 27 individuals have earned their Doctor of Nursing degrees at Northwestern.
More recently, it became apparent there was a need to bring back the visual arts major to Northwestern.
“We were losing students to other universities, students who wanted the major. We had the donor with the passion to see its return to our degree offerings.”
Dr. Hannaford is recognized as a leader who is not restricted by doubts. He watches for the needs of the community and sees if there are new possibilities to answer those needs.
“It is a process that takes time,” Dr. Hannaford admits. “But we cannot be afraid to put in the time and resources to see if we can provide an answer. Sometimes it’s a home run, and sometimes it is not. But we always learn something valuable.”
Family Time, Hannaford Style
The Hannaford home is all about family, even with balancing the responsibilities of Northwestern. Dr. Hannaford’s wife, Tara, offered a glimpse into their family life.
“We are all competitive,” Tara said. “Game night may not happen as often, but it will remain a time when we can come together to enjoy one another with laughter, conversation and fun rivalry. We enjoy hanging out together, whether it is around the table or doing yard work.”
Family includes Dr. Hannaford’s daughter, Carson, who graduated from Northwestern in December 2020 with a degree in English education. Carson currently teaches English and is the yearbook advisor at her hometown high school in Dewey, Oklahoma. Carson is currently working on her master’s degree in school counseling from Northwestern.
The Hannaford’s son, Tucker, is an eighth grader who earns top grades in academics. He inherited athletic genes from both parents and participates in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.
Tucker recently announced to his parents that he was going to join FFA and immediately took on the responsibility of caring for pigs, which are housed at the Alva Schools farm.
The Hannaford family life is full, and it takes the skill of an organizer to make it work. Selfproclaimed – and also husband-proclaimed – Tara is the ultimate organizer.
“She gets it done, period,” Dr. Hannaford offers with a smile.
Tara also enjoys, and balances, a career as the Director of Financial Aid for Northwestern. She graduated with her master’s degree in education from Northwestern in 2015.
She recalled her thoughts when she heard the news that her husband had been named Northwestern’s new president.
“I was very excited for Bo. He has worked hard in his career to do the right thing.
“I recognized early when we began dating that he bleeds red and black. That hasn’t changed. He loves this university and wants to see it succeed. He wants our students to succeed. I am very proud of him.”
Moving forward for Northwestern Dr. Hannaford recognizes the challenges he and his team face. Enrollment at Northwestern is starting to see a comeback after experiencing the decline that institutions across the United States experienced for several years. The work to grow enrollment numbers continues.
“Higher education is necessary to fill many of the critical occupations in the State of Oklahoma and beyond,” said Dr. Hannaford. “We are working to get in front of more high school students, their parents and high school counselors.
“Our campus infrastructure is a never-ending opportunity for improvement. We must keep facilities up-to-date.
“Professional development for faculty and staff is another critical investment. We have exceptional faculty and staff, and we are all recruiters for Northwestern.
“I want students, alumni and community to be proud of Northwestern. We cannot yield to offering anything less than a high-quality, affordable education for our students. And we will continue to be confident, good stewards of the investments provided by our donors.
“I’m looking forward to the work and the results in front of us.”
