Christopher “Chris” Hanlon, with a bachelor’s from Winthrop University (S.C.) and master’s from then Hollins University (Va.), brought over 35 years of financial aid knowledge and expertise when he joined The Valley in 2023 as Director of Financial Aid. He began his financial aid career in 1989, teaching Philosophy at a college as an adjunct. Just three years later, Chris accepted his first college directorship. Despite this longevity, he still enjoys the challenges of his chosen path, simplifying the fast and complicated process as much as possible and making financial aid clear and understandable for every student and family member his team works with.
Though arriving professionally in 2023, Chris knows LVC well, having two children in their senior year at the College. He gained enormous respect for The Valley’s academic community through his children and aims to give back through dedicated service to student financial needs—a community that has given so much to his family.
Chris is inspired by working with young people daily, noting that “our students are grounded, extremely dedicated, and very, very driven.” He believes LVC’s success is due to outstanding faculty, outstanding students, and transparent and forward-thinking leadership. He loves that the LVC community is honest, direct, and compassionate about the complicated conversations that occur throughout the College.
Spending quality time with partner Jamie Hanlon, their children, Owen ’25, Abbie, and Claire, and amazing addition Athena Vinson ’25, on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland is of primary importance to Chris, especially when they get to flyfish while catching very, very little. He also enjoys flyfishing in one of Pennsylvania’s classic limestone streams, including the beautiful Quittee, just blocks from campus.
Chris’s passion for the outdoors extends to his involvement as a volunteer grant writer for the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay waters, culture, and community.