Robert L. Manuel became DePaul’s 13th president on August 1, 2022. He was drawn to the university because of its Catholic, Vincentian mission to educate students to engage the most pressing questions of the day and advance the modern workforce.
Since joining the university, he has engaged faculty, staff, students, and alumni to develop and implement Designing DePaul - the framework to become a national model for quality higher education. Current initiatives include advancing interdisciplinary research to address the most pressing challenges facing society and launching new retention strategies to eliminate the achievement gap for all students.
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 all 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, 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. At Georgetown, he 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 assume the board chair post in July 2025. He is also a member of the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors, EAB President’s Advisory Board, and a board member of the Institute of International Education.
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.