"We absolutely love Michigan,” Julia Hansen exclaimed, gesturing out the window toward a rather chilly Oct. afternoon. “And it’s truly a privilege to be at Andrews,” her husband Dan rejoins, adding, “I can hardly wait to break in my new boots this winter.” Having spent over twenty-five years serving the Texas and Okla. conferences, the couple is understandably excited over the prospect of a white Christmas, but their enthusiasm characterizes more than their attitude toward oft-frowned-upon Mich. weather. As Andrews' newest staff couple, Dan and Julia Hansen are equally eager to “make students the first priority and demonstrate the character of Jesus in all that [they] do.”

Before moving to Andrews, Julia worked first as an executive assistant for Cadbury Beverages’ Dallas headquarters, then as a secretary at Miller Adventist School in Dallas, Texas. Meanwhile, Dan worked in purchasing, operations, and contracts for Ericsson, a telecommunications company also based in Dallas. When the industry suffered from downsizing, Dan turned his attention to the Adventist healthcare system. But while Dan was applying for a hospital position near Wash.’s Walla Walla College, his friend was forwarding Dan’s résumé to Andrews, where university administrators were quick to request an interview that the Hansens are sure was God-ordained.

After a mid-Feb. 2005 interview, Dan and Julia accepted respective positions as manager of Plant Services and administrative assistant to Francine Faehner, vice president of Student Services. Dan enjoys the responsibility of keeping the campus comfortable and orderly, and Julia enjoys assisting students on an interpersonal level.

In their spare time, the couple enjoys outdoor activities. Dan golfs and is an ardent yard worker who keeps Julia’s plants from “committing suicide.” Julia enjoys biking and bird watching, but spending time with their daughter Stevie ranks number one for both of them. In fact, that ten-year-old Stevie would be able to enjoy an uninterrupted educational experience at Andrews confirmed the couple’s decision to accept campus jobs. “At Andrews,” Julia notes, “children can go from kindergarten to doctorate school without moving.” For the Hansens, stability is vital to the success of any learning environment and is an enormous blessing. And Dan and Julia look forward to continued contribution to that stability in their new positions.

Elizabeth Lechleitner, University Relations student news writer