The State College Board named Dr. Robert Hanson of Moorhead State to replace Robert DuFresne.

Hanson had a long history of service to Minnesota education. He had been a classroom teacher and a director of agricultural programs at the West Central School of the University of Minnesota for nearly ten years. In 1959, he went to Moorhead State as Director of Admissions. He had been academic vice president at Moorhead for five years prior to his appointment to Winona State.

In December 1981, Hanson suffered a severe stroke. The episode came as a shock to everyone, but it was expected that Hanson would only be out of the president's chair for a few months. Hanson never resumed the office, however. His physical recovery went quite well, but his memory was effected. In 1983,he resigned to take early retirement.