Paul Manuel’s professional record underlines his abilities as a creative and collaborative academic leader. He has been a pioneer in the development, implementation, and assessment of academically rigorous experiential programs at three institutions. The “theory to practice” academic programs that he has designed have helped students develop their research skills, leadership abilities, and interdisciplinary understanding. Students completing these programs have been well-prepared for their future professional careers. Briefly listed below are his experiences and achievements in higher education over the past thirty years
Visiting Professor, Claremont McKenna College (California) Washington, DC campus
Manuel is a visiting professor of government at the Washington, DC campus of Claremont McKenna College. He teaches leadership to Claremont students who are spending a semester interning in Washington, with a focus on politics, power, and persuasion. The CMC Washington Program was established in 1972, and features a full-time internship with a rigorous academic curriculum, based on an experiential learning model. An internship in Washington, D.C. is the gold standard for students seeking to understand the American political process.
Affiliated Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy & Government Department, Georgetown University
Manuel has enjoyed an affiliated professor appointment at Georgetown University since 2009. He teaches undergraduate classes on comparative political systems and international organization; he teaches graduate classes on leadership, and public management and supervises graduate capstone projects.
Director, School of Public Affairs Leadership Program American University, Washington, D.C. & Distinguished Scholar and Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer, 2015-2023
Manuel was the director of the Leadership Program in the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University in Washington, D.C., where he enjoys dual faculty appointments as Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and Distinguished Scholar.
The SPA Leadership Program prepares students for leadership roles in their future professional careers, in the private sector as well as in the government. In the program, students complete a sequence of courses and internships. They also prepare two leadership projects designed to understand and engage civil society. The 15-credit course of leadership study and practice culminates in a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies.
Manuel has developed working relationships with offices across campus and throughout the Washington D.C. area to support the Leadership Program. He is responsible for all aspects of program administration including internships; course scheduling; teaching; faculty; financial stewardship; student recruitment; mentoring; and staffing.
American University Welcome Announcement for Paul Manuel in 2015
Founding Director, Mount Leadership Institute & Professor of Political Science, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 2010-2016
Manuel was appointed founding director of the Mount Leadership Institute at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland in 2010 (now called ILead), where he was a tenured faculty member in the political science department. He directly reported to both the provost and to the executive vice president of student life. He frequently presented reports to the Board of Trustees.
The president of Mount St. Mary’s University asked him to create a leadership development curriculum, as part the new university-wide common educational experience, to help students prepare for their future professional careers. To that end, and in coordination with deans, faculty, staff, and students in all four schools, and with the Mount Career Center, Manuel organized a variety of listening sessions, workshops, and private meetings. He eventually developed the new leadership curriculum around the dual notions of engaged citizenship and professional preparation, and presented it to the faculty for a vote. Once approved, he worked to implement it and to develop associated assessment metrics. He participated in the 2015 Middle States reaccreditation report, which included this successful initiative. With the Office of the President at Mount St. Mary’s University, he helped to develop an Institute Advisory Council.
His administrative duties included recruiting, hiring and supervising staff; curriculum development; grant-writing; program review and assessment; student mentoring; budget management; building relationships around the college; faculty and staff development; working with the Institute Advisory Council; and planning and overseeing leadership programs. With the Mount Career Center, Manuel introduced the leadership curriculum to all new students every fall, which included a requirement for each student to develop a professional resume.
Under his leadership as founding director, the Mount Leadership Institute developed productive and supporting relationships with all academic departments, community service programs, the Mount Career Center, and other co-curricular groups to connect theoretical learning about leadership to civic engagement and professional careers. The institute also launched an emerging leader certificate program, taught leadership classes, and applied to the National Society for Leadership and Success.
Founding Director, Mount Office of Competitive Fellowships, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 2012-2016
Manuel was appointed the founding director of the Mount Office of Competitive Fellowships in 2013. He assembled an interdisciplinary faculty advisory committee, and assisted interested students with the application process for highly competitive and distinguished awards. Several Fulbright scholarships were awarded to Mount students as a result of his work.
Participant, Accreditation Team Visits, Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education invited Manuel to participate on several accreditation team visits, affording him the opportunity to gain a bird’s eye view of how institutions of higher education function. Manuel learned a great deal about shared governance; strategic vision; long-term financial sustainability; institutional cultures; curriculum; collegiality; diversity, equity and inclusion; and communication. He particularly appreciates the complex challenges of an institution with undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and with a growing online enrollment.
Chief Operating Officer & Director of Education, Institute for Global Engagement, Rossyln, Virginia, 2008-2010
From 2008 to 2010, Manuel functioned as the chief operating officer and director of education at a DC- based think-tank called the Institute for Global Engagement. Manuel oversaw program and other activities in a dynamic policy environment. His responsibilities included daily supervision of the office; developing performance metrics and program assessment; managing fundraising efforts; making reports to the Board of Directors; and developing educational programs and partnerships with universities.
IGE Welcomes Paul Manuel in 2008
Manuel developed two global leadership conferences on Muslim-Christian understanding at Georgetown University in 2009 and 2010.
Institute Co-Founder, New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College (NHIOP), 1996-2008
In an effort to expand experiential opportunities, civic knowledge, and leadership skills for students at Saint Anselm College, Paul Manuel, the chair of the Department of Politics, with politics professor Dale Kuehne and Anne Botteri from the campus development office, started a conversation about how to meaningfully bring the studies of civic engagement and leadership to Saint Anselm College.
Politics student Zach McGlaughin, ’96, from Maine, who was a work study student for both Anne Botteri and Paul Manuel, had suggested that they should work together to build an Institute of Politics to teach about civics, civic engagement and leadership, similar to the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. They agreed, and started a conversation around how best to bring the study of civic education to Saint Anselm College.
The following year, the president of Saint Anselm College asked Manuel to chair a campus-wide committee to develop the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) concept. Manuel then worked with faculty, staff and students across campus in 1996-97; authored the final proposal; and presented it for approval to the Board of Trustees at their June 1998 meeting.
Once approved, Manuel retained his position as department chair, and also assumed more important college-wide administrative responsibilites in order to build the NHIOP. He directly reported to the executive vice president for academic affairs and managed a diverse list of responsibilities and deadlines on topics ranging from the construction of the new facility to the establishment of the academic research center. Manuel worked closely with the architects and construction firm, and participated in the design of the new NHIOP facility, including academic and public spaces.
With the Saint Anselm College Office of the President and his colleagues, Manuel helped to raise over $14 million in federal grants towards the establishment of the Institute. He also worked with them to develop the NHIOP Public Advisory Council.
New Hampshire Institute of Politics Research Director, 1998 – 2008; Executive Director, 2007-2008
Manuel served served terms as NHIOP executive director and research director. He managed office staff, faculty and numerous program deadlines during the 2008 presidential primary. He appeared on many national and international television and radio shows. As research director, Manuel coordinated of the work of over sixteen academic departments at Saint Anselm College with the Institute of Politics. His specific responsibilities included the creation and oversight of a variety of interdisciplinary academic teaching programs; faculty and student research support programs; a film series; a speaker series; a working paper series; and a Survey Research Center to produce high-quality public opinion polls. The goal of this work was to develop a vibrant intellectual life for faculty and students at the NHIOP, and also to contribute to the larger national conversation about leadership, civic engagement and politics. Today, the NHIOP is a must-stop for presidential candidates during the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, and remains dedicated to helping students learn how to become engaged citizens.
Professor and Chair, Department of Politics, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, 1993-2008
Manuel served as chair of the Politics Department at Saint Anselm College for fifteen years (1993-2008), where he also held a tenured faculty position. He brought a strategic vision to this position and oversaw a period of strong departmental growth: student enrollment increased; new courses were adopted; tenure-track lines were added; and new academic programs were approved. He developed assessment measures and participated in the preparation of three New England reaccreditation reports. In addition, as faculty senator, he worked on shared governance; faculty hiring, promotion and tenure; and academic freedom. He worked with faculty colleagues on new program development and implementation, including the addition of an international relations major and a public policy certificate program.
Perhaps most importantly, Manuel advanced a collegial atmosphere among faculty engaged in different research methodologies. The result was the development of a diverse pedagogical team which respected each other, was committed to teaching and research, and which engaged in open, civil, and serious discussions on a full array of topics. The growth and collegiality of the Department of Politics are Manuel’s most satisfying achievements at Saint Anselm College.
Paul Manuel established the Upislon Lambda Pi Sigma Alpha chapter at Saint Anselm in 1995, the National Honor Society in Political Science based in Washington, D.C. Manuel received the Pi Sigma Alpha national award for “Best Chapter Advisor,” at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Associaiton.
Recipient, Saint Anselm College President’s Award, 2006
In recognition for their work toward the founding of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Paul Manuel, with colleagues Anne Botteri and Dale Kuehne, received the Saint Anselm College President’s Award in 2006.
Manuel and the founding of the NHIOP
Paul Manuel, A Brief History of the NHIOP on the occasion of its 20th anniversary
Professional Portfolio of Paul Christopher Manuel 