He earned his master's degree in public administration at West Virginia University College of Graduate Studies.
[citation needed] Anderson began working in higher education in 1967, serving as the Virginia State Council of Higher Education's coordinator of academic programs and enrollment research and later working as the West Virginia Board of Regents' director of research and planning.
Anderson began his time at Mary Washington College in 1976 after being appointed Executive Vice President.
[3] His spearheading of a graduate program ultimately led to Mary Washington gaining university status in 2004.
[citation needed] In February 2005, Anderson announced his plan to retire following the end of the 2005-2006 academic year.