William Hanna

William "Bill" Hanna was a 35-year veteran of UMD’s Urban Studies and Planning Program and a lively, sharp presence within the school and community. He is remembered for his fierce dedication to his students and his tireless activism for vulnerable and immigrant populations in Maryland communities.

William John Hanna was born in Cleveland and later lived in Los Angeles, earning a PhD at UCLA in political science. He taught for a total of 54 years at various schools including Michigan State University, the City University of New York, University of Texas at Dallas (where he was also a dean) and the University of Maryland, College Park, where he taught Urban Studies from 1978 to 2013. At UMD, Bill focused on the challenges of planning and policy-making when crossing cultures. He was devoted to his students, some of whom have remained family friends over the years.