Professor

“This was such a gift, and I feel so lucky! I will never, ever forget this time. It was just incredible.”

You want to know the true meaning of ‘human development’? Talk to Nancy Hanson, who has just had one of the most amazing weeks of her life. “We had five students from Colombia on campus, who had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. They stayed with me the whole week, and I’m totally exhausted,” says Nancy, who’s been at SMC part time for 19 years. “There’s been an internal war in Colombia for 200 years. These students decided that if anything was ever going to change, it was up to them. They spoke in the Concert Hall about what they were doing, and when my students heard them speak, they were moved to tears.”

Not all the lives moving through SMC are headed toward an eventual Nobel Prize, or even a nomination for one. But Nancy—and many others—are here to ensure that the lives at SMC are all directed toward success. “Human Development 20 is called the ‘Student Success Seminar,’ and what it gives students is the skills they need to transition into college,” says Nancy.

“Whether you’re coming from high school, the work world, or returning to college after many years, we have all sorts of resources. Setting goals and gaining study skills is only part of what we teach,” she adds. “We can show you how many hours of homework you should plan on, how to get financial aid so you can cut down on your working hours, and how to take advantage of all the support networks here.”

Save money. Get smarter. Move forward faster. Now that’s human development.

SMC Human Development Professor Nancy Hanson began full-time at SMC in Fall ’99. Welcome!

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