He is credited with transforming the school from a regional undergraduate college into a large national research institution.

After his resignation from the university, Hannah became head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

One of Hannah's strategies was to build a new residence hall, enroll enough students to fill it, and use the income to start construction on a new dormitory.

's student body, Hannah also expanded the institution from a college of regional reputation into a nationally recognized research university.

When the University of Chicago eliminated its athletics and resigned from what is now the Big Ten Conference in 1946, Hannah lobbied hard to take its place.

[6] As part of its sesquicentennial celebration, MSU erected a 7-foot bronze statue of Hannah in front of his namesake administration building on September 17, 2004, sculpted by California artist Bruce Wolfe.