New Southern interim president shares vision for college’s future
- 21 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Shana Nelson | WVOW News
LOGAN New Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Interim President Elizabeth Manuel says she plans to build on the institution’s academic offerings while focusing on enrollment growth and expanding educational opportunities across the region.
Manuel, who officially assumed the role June 1 after being named interim president on May 28, recently joined WVOW’s “What’s Your Opinion?” alongside Southern recruiter Mike Collins to discuss the college’s future, workforce development efforts and the role community colleges play in southern West Virginia.
A Logan native, Manuel previously worked at Southern before spending nearly 16 years with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System. During that time, she helped secure $30 million in funding for student success initiatives, oversaw the system’s Division of Student Affairs and served on the chancellor’s cabinet.
Most recently, Manuel worked as a K-12 administrator overseeing student affairs, operational initiatives and infrastructure development. She brings more than 25 years of experience in education, including fiscal management and administration of state and federal grants supporting educational programs.
Manuel said one of her top priorities is increasing enrollment while continuing to strengthen academic programs.
She said community and technical colleges are uniquely positioned to meet workforce needs through flexible programming, open enrollment policies and accessible pathways for students of all ages.
Southern offers more than 30 associate degree and certificate programs, along with its Early College Academy, which allows high school students to earn college credits before graduation.
Manuel said the college is also working to reconnect with former students who earned college credits but never completed a degree.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us as an institution to be able to reach back out to those individuals and say, ‘hey, let us work with you on either a credential, an associate’s degree or even a Board of Governors degree,’” Manuel said.
She highlighted affordability as one of Southern’s greatest strengths, pointing to programs such as WV Invest, Pell Grants and other financial aid opportunities that can help students attend college with little or no debt.
“We know that in West Virginia, messaging is very important, reaching out to our communities and letting them know these opportunities are available to you, and there’s money to help you go back to school,” Manuel said.
Manuel said her commitment to higher education was shaped early in life by her father, who encouraged all five of his children to pursue education beyond high school. She attended Southern before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University.
She said those experiences reinforced her belief that education can transform lives, families and communities.
“I see us to be in a place where we provide hope in our community,” Manuel said. “A community college is just that: we’re there for the community.”
Collins said Southern’s mission extends beyond traditional degree programs.
“College may not be for everyone, but education is,” Collins said.
He noted that Southern offers certifications, workforce training and technical education programs that prepare students for careers in a variety of industries.
Manuel said colleges today place a greater emphasis on student support services, college readiness programs and career and technical education opportunities. She said Southern will continue working closely with local school systems through dual-credit courses, early-entry programs and other initiatives designed to strengthen the educational pipeline.
She also said state intervention in some county school systems has not affected Southern’s partnerships with local educators.
“We are working closely with them,” Manuel said. “I don't foresee any issues at all, and I think that they are wonderful partners where education is concerned.”
Both guests acknowledged challenges facing higher education, including West Virginia’s declining population, a shrinking pool of traditional college-aged students and growing competition from online learning providers.
However, Manuel said community colleges continue to offer advantages through smaller class sizes, personalized advising and one-on-one support.
Student debt remains a concern for many prospective students, Collins said, prompting some to pursue short-term training programs that lead directly to employment.
He pointed to Southern’s surgical technology program as one example, noting that healthcare employers often hire students before graduation and assist them financially while they complete their studies.
Manuel also highlighted programs in nursing, allied health, emergency medical services and other high-demand fields.
She said Southern’s small class sizes, tutoring resources and disability services help students succeed and often provide a smoother transition into higher education than larger institutions.
“I think it’s the customized one-on-one support that they receive at a community college that may be different at a larger, four-year university,” Manuel said.
Asked about her vision for the institution’s future, Manuel said student success will remain the college’s guiding principle.
“Student success will remain at the center of every decision,” she said.
More information about Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is available at southernwv.edu.
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