Prof. Daryl Hanneman

Professor Daryl Hanneman, Special Education

Meet Professor Daryl Hanneman DMLC ’75, a member of our graduate faculty and now a new undergraduate professor in the special education division.

Professor Hanneman’s interest in special education began early in his ministry. He and his wife, Shirley DMLC ’75, served as the faculty of Trinity-Johnson MN after graduating from college. Hanneman remembers having students with particular learning needs he didn’t know how to address. He asked professionals in the public school system for support. Soon he wanted that knowledge for himself. “I wanted to learn how to assess and design interventions for my students, so I began taking classes in education and psychology,” he said.

He eventually earned his master’s degree in educational psychology and his certification in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “I chose school psychology as a focus,” he says, “because it allowed me to work with both regular education and special-needs children.”

What followed was 25 years as a K-12 school psychologist in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area. He served both rural and city schools, and he also worked for the Department of Corrections in the Batterers’ Education Program for 14 years.

This year Hanneman will teach PSY3002 Abnormal Psychology in the undergrad program and EDU5207 Human Exceptionalities in the Classroom in the graduate program. His primary project will be working with Dr. Alan Spurgin to design the details of the undergrad special education coursework.

This new calling is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one. “My wife and I had planned to move south where we could enjoy leisure time on the Gulf Coast. Instead, God wanted me to move north and serve him and the church for a few more years,” he said. “I am most looking forward to working with other staff who have the same convictions as I do regarding my Lord. Also, I am eager to help our WELS teachers provide for the needs of students with special needs.”

Prof. Daryl Hanneman
Early years: Elementary school at Zion-Sanborn MN and high school at Martin Luther Academy, the prep school formerly housed on D/MLC’s campus.
Family: He met his wife, Shirley DMLC ’75, at college. Their daughter Holly lives in San Francisco, and their daughter Heidi lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters.
Hobbies: Tinkering with technology; gardening; travel, particularly cruising; reading professional literature on learning, special education, and technology; baroque music, particularly Handel; and photography. This year one of his photos won a prize in the Grant Wood AEA Photography Contest.
Special interest: “One of my favorite cities is Chicago. I’ve become somewhat of an expert on riding the El, and I enjoy taking friends on Windy City excursions.”
Philosophy: “All students can learn, and we can figure out how to help them if we have the right tools and understanding of their needs.”