Administrative/Biographical History
Brian K. Hansen was born on February 5, 1936 in Pasadena California. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, Hansen attended the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated in 1960. In 1961 he received an M.A. degree from Cornell University, and went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. In 1966 he was appointed a McPherson Fellow at the University of Minnesota. Prior to his time at Oberlin College, Hansen taught at San Diego State College, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Washington State University. In September of 1970 he was appointed to the position of Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Oberlin College, where he taught for three years. During his time at Oberlin the Theatre-Arts Program underwent a number of changes in which Hansen, as Chairperson, played a key role. In 1973 he went on to become an associate professor and chairperson of theater at the University of Delaware. In 1973 Hansen’s wife, Patricia Hansen, died of cancer leaving behind her husband and their two sons, Kevin (b. 1960) and Kaj (b. 1961). Author: Caitlin Condell
