During Hancock's tenure at Albion College he successfully completed three comprehensive campaigns: the $140 million Liberal Arts at Work campaign, the $75 million Campaign for Generations and the $40 million Campaign for Albion. Also under his leadership, average annual alumni giving to the college reached a consistent 50 percent participation rate.

Prior to joining Albion College, Hancock was director of development and executive director of the university's foundation at Boise State University from 1984 to 1989 and a director of university relations at Penn State University from 1981 to 1984. He began his work in higher education in 1977 as director of alumni services at James Madison University and then moved into the position of director of development and alumni relations at Maryville College from 1979 to 1981.

Hancock earned a bachelor's degree in Russian studies in 1974 and a master's degree in education in 1975 from James Madison University. He completed his doctorate in 2004 at the University of Virginia in comparative and international education.

Since earning his doctorate, Hancock has continued to engage in scholarly and professional activity in the area of developing philanthropic and socially responsible university communities. His international involvement includes a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh in 1988 and a Russell Mawby Fellowship at Oxford University in 1998.