Robert L. Manuel is starting his third year as
DePaul University’s 13th president. A proven leader in higher education, Rob currently serves as the vice chair for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He also is a member of the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors.
Since joining the DePaul community on Aug. 1, 2022, Rob has led the university through the development and initial implementation of
Designing DePaul. As the framework for the university’s next strategic plan, Designing DePaul defines the path forward to become a national model for higher education.
As the university gets ready to launch a new strategic plan in May 2025, progress has already been made on several Designing DePaul initiatives:
- To advance interdisciplinary and translational research efforts, DePaul is introducing the SPARK Center to provide resources and support for faculty, students and community partners to work together on projects that address pressing societal issues. The SPARK Center uses advanced data visualization techniques to translate research into digestible information for non-experts to make informed decisions that shape the future.
- In fiscal year 2024, DePaul raised more than $58 million and provided students with more than $322 million in financial aid and scholarships. DePaul’s philanthropic expansion will continue as the university prepares to launch its next comprehensive campaign.
- The university started to see early success for student retention. Last fall, more of the previous year’s freshmen returned to DePaul for a second year than at any time since 2013. DePaul also introduced new technologies to enhance the enrollment process and simplify student-advisor scheduling.
- Launched in spring 2024, a Digital Transformation project is underway to introduce a new digital experience to better connect our university community. This project will create a data lake, internal portal and new public website for the university.
- DePaul made noteworthy improvements to campus safety, including an increased security presence on both campuses, implemented new DEI training programs for Public Safety officers, and improved safe transportation options.
- DePaul now offers a new, comprehensive student health insurance plan to students for purchase if they do not have insurance, ensuring that all students have coverage.
- DePaul welcomed a new men’s basketball coach, Chris Holtmann, and completed the renovation of the Sullivan Athletics Center – the first of two planned projects to transform DePaul’s Athletics Facilities.
About Rob
Rob brings more than 30 years of academic excellence in higher education to DePaul. Prior to joining DePaul in 2022, he served as president at the University of Indianapolis, a faith-based institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
At UIndy, where he served as president since 2012, he ushered in an era of strong academic, financial and physical growth. He guided the construction of three new residence halls attracting more than 900 new students to live on campus, developed the 150,000 square foot University Health Pavilion, and redeveloped a local industrial building into the new home of the R.B. Annis School of Engineering. He also raised more than $100 million for the university.
Throughout his career, Rob has consistently prioritized expanding access and supporting the success of underrepresented populations and first-generation students. At UIndy, where first-generation students represent 43% of the first-year class, he engaged the entire university community in the development and implementation of a five-year strategic plan. The outcome resulted in a significant boost in enrollment, particularly among students of color, increases in engagement of alumni and fundraising, investments in faculty and academic support, as well as an increase in graduation and retention rates. Rob also appointed UIndy’s first diversity, equity and inclusion officer, a position that directly reports to him as president.
As a higher education administrator, first at Le Moyne College, then at New York University and followed by Georgetown, Rob has been recognized for his development and implementation of innovative academic programming—including graduate, undergraduate, online and customized educational programs.
In his six years at Georgetown, from 2006 to 2012, he served as dean of the School of Continuing Studies and then associate provost. As dean, in addition to reorganizing the school, he helped create a Diversity Council that engaged corporate partners in research projects related to equity and inclusion. He established the Georgetown Global Education Institute, which trained global leaders in entrepreneurship, urban planning and financial policy. As associate provost, he provided leadership for the Center for Social Justice, Research and Training; the Diversity Action Council and a Veteran Affairs initiative.
At New York University, Rob started working in Admissions while also earning his doctoral degree. He served in the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment Services from 1994 to 2006. He also held the positions of chief information officer, assistant dean and clinical associate professor at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Raised in the Episcopal Church, he credits his most formative religious development to his time at Le Moyne College and Georgetown University, both Catholic institutions. For the last six years, he has served as a board member at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory High School. He also has participated in immersive religious experiences, including a year-long retreat with the Jesuits, which culminated in an immersive service trip to Kenya.
On July 1, 2024, Rob became vice chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He will serve a one-year term as vice chair and is in line to assume the board chair post in July 2025.
In July 2024, he also joined the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors. The Cristo Rey Network is a non-profit organization focused on preparing youth from low-income families for post-secondary educational opportunities. Rob has been involved in the Cristo Rey Network since he was a dean at Georgetown University.
Rob has a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Allegheny College, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Syracuse University and a PhD in higher education administration from New York University. He and his wife, Wilmara, are the proud parents of three daughters.