Abagail L. “Abby” Van Vlerah, Vice President for Student Affairs, joined Manchester University in February 2019. Van Vlerah joined us with 18 years of prior experience in higher education. Prior to her start at Manchester, she worked at Long Island University as dean and chief operating officer at its Suffolk County regional campuses. Before that, she was director of a mentoring program for first-generation students at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. She has also worked at Saint Mary’s and the University of Wyoming.

Being a first-generation student herself, she is passionate about assisting first-generation students by teaching them how to navigate their way through the difficulties of attending university and understands firsthand the challenges that today’s students are facing. 

Originally from Angola, Ind., she now resides in North Manchester. Outside of work, she is an avid motorcyclist, runner, and an enjoyer of audiobooks, travel, loves a hot dog (grills it mean), she loves her mom, loves to talk on a microphone, proud megaphone owner, enjoys a good jumpsuit, appreciates a good whirr of a sound machine, and doesn’t want to be hugged (unless it is her mom).

Van Vlerah holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College, a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Wyoming, and a doctorate in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.