Zeynep Hansen has been selected to serve as Boise State University’s vice provost for academic planning. She will replace Jim Munger, who will retire on June 30.
“I’m just delighted that Zeynep will be joining the provost’s office. She brings impressive skills, experience, institutional knowledge and character to the job,” said Provost Tony Roark. “I’m aware of how valuable the support provided by this position is to departments and colleges, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Zeynep’s unique abilities will quickly make her a go-to person for the campus. There aren’t many people who could follow Jim Munger in this role, but Zeynep is definitely one of them.”
Hansen was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants by a 13-member selection committee. As vice provost, she will collaborate with other members of the provost’s team, college deans, department chairs and others to contribute to university efforts toward higher levels of achievement in teaching, scholarship and community engagement.
“I’m honored and very excited to be selected to serve as the vice provost for academic planning,” Hansen said. “I look forward to collaborating with academic leaders and all other campus partners in this new role starting on July 1. In the meantime, I have much to learn from Jim Munger, who is a wonderfully supportive leader and colleague. I have experienced first-hand Jim’s expertise and leadership, as we have worked together closely over the past few years. I am committed to a continued partnership with Jim and other members of the provost’s office to make this transition successful. With immense growth and opportunity in the coming years for Boise State, I am very happy to serve the campus community in this role.”
Hansen has served as associate dean for academic programs and scholarship for the College of Business and Economics since June 2017. In that role, she administered 18 undergraduate and graduate programs with approximately 300 graduate students and more than 3,000 undergraduates; oversaw College Graduate Programs, Career Services, Advising Services and Online Programs; advised the dean on strategic planning including curriculum decisions, operational decisions and outreach to students and faculty; led college-wide research support efforts and initiatives; collaborated with other colleges and departments at Boise State on new program and curriculum offerings; and served on a number of university-wide committees.
Hansen joined Boise State in 2007 as an associate professor, was promoted to professor in 2010 and served as chair of the Department of Economics from 2013-2017. Previously, she served on the faculty of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of Boise State.
Hansen also is a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). She has published articles in journals such as the Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Law and Economics, Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, and Journal of Economic History. Most of her research focuses on agricultural policy in the development of the American economy. Her other research interests are in health policy, strategic biotechnology-pharmaceutical alliances, education economics, water infrastructure and historical water use in the western United States.