News
Manchester University News
Feature Story
Manchester University names Elizabeth Marsch executive director of online education
Manchester University welcomed Elizabeth Marsch as its executive director of online education on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Marsch comes to Manchester from The Ohio State University, where she worked for nearly 25 years. She most recently held the position of director of...
Ready. Set. Move In!
Getting ready for move-in? Use our residence hall move-in checklist to pack the essentials for college and start your semester at Manchester University with confidence. Moving into your college residence hall is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming when you’re trying to remember everything you need. Whether you’re a first-year student or a returning student getting ready for another year at Manchester University, having a checklist can make the process much less stressful. From bedroom essentials to bathroom items and healthy snacks, use thisresidence hall move-in checklist to help you pack with confidence and start the semester prepared.
MU alumna, board member receives Distinguished Service Award from Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists
Manchester University alumna and Board of Trustees member Harriet Hamer, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ISA Distinguished Service Award by the Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Hamer has dedicated decades of service to anesthesiology,...
MU communication studies professor earns endowed position
Manchester University is pleased to announce that Dr. Janine Armstrong has accepted the position of Robin D. and Jeanette M. Lahman Endowed Scholar in Communication Studies. Armstrong joined Manchester University’s faculty in Fall 2025 as a visiting assistant...
Manchester University Announces Fall 2026 VIA Lineup
Manchester University offers more than a dozen presentations in its Values, Ideas and the Arts (VIA) series for Fall 2026. Presentations are at 11 a.m. on Mondays in Wine Recital Hall at the North Manchester campus unless otherwise noted. They are free and open to the...
All News
MU professor emeritus named pioneer in social work
Dr. Brad Yoder, professor emeritus of sociology and social work, was one of three Hoosiers recognized as a Pioneer in Social Work by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASW) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in early June. Yoder was inducted into the 2025 and 2026 Pioneers program classes, created to honor social workers who have made significant contributions to advancing the profession. Yoder spent more than five decades establishing the high standard to which social work can achieve when compassion is paired with courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to...
Read More 
Manchester adds women’s flag football to athletics program
Manchester University will add women’s flag football to its 20 NCAA-sanctioned sports in Fall 2027. Tabbed as an emerging NCAA sport in January 2026, this initiative aims to capitalize off of the growing popularity of women’s flag football in youth leagues, high schools and collegiate clubs. Women’s flag football was able to achieve NCAA championship status with help from the Emerging Sports for Women program, which supports broader sports opportunities for women. It has also been added as a sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics. More than 100 colleges have sponsored varsity or club flag football teams in 2026. Manchester is the...
Read More 
Manchester University welcomes new College of Business dean
Manchester University welcomes Dr. Ron Lewis as the new Dean of the College of Business and Human Services. He started at the University on June 1, 2026. Lewis previously served as Assistant Professor and Program Chair for Marketing and Sport Management at the University of Saint Francis, where he has led significant program growth, including developing one of the largest programs in the School of Business. In his leadership roles, he has overseen curriculum design, program assessment, faculty collaboration, and initiatives focused on student retention, progression, and...
Read More 
Manchester University celebrates the Class of 2026
Manchester University graduated 269 students at this year’s commencement ceremonies. In total, 286 degrees were awarded, including 186 undergraduate degrees and 100 graduate and professional degrees. Twenty-eight students earned honors distinction. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the graduation of Manchester’s inaugural pharmacy class in 2016. The program launched in 2012 alongside the opening of Manchester University Fort Wayne. David Haist, a 1973 Manchester graduate, was this year’s commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient. He served as a member of the MU Board of Trustees...
Read More 
Vice President Van Vlerah named President of Notre Dame of Maryland University
Manchester University is delighted to share that Vice President for Student Life Abby Van Vlerah has been selected to serve as president of Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, Md. She will start there on July 6. Her last day at Manchester is June 25. Van Vlerah redefined the role of vice president for student life at Manchester, elevating student success, enrollment, and institutional strategy in both North Manchester and Fort Wayne. She came to Manchester with more than a decade of leadership experience in higher education, including...
Read More 
Journal Gazette publishes op-ed from Dean W. Thomas Smith
Manchester University’s Dean of the School of Pharmacy, W. Thomas Smith, was recently published in the Journal Gazette. His op-ed, which can be read below, discusses the growing need for pharmacists in the industry. The full Journal Gazette article can be found here. Need for pharmacists grows more complicated As Indiana’s population ages and chronic disease becomes more common, pharmacists play an increasingly important role in patient care in community pharmacy and hospital settings. Trained in medication management, drug interactions,...
Read More 
Manchester University offers youth esports summer camps
Manchester University will host its third-annual esports summer camp this June, open to community youth. Two camps, focused on Super Smash Bros., will be offered: a day camp for rising 3rd through 6th graders on June 27, and an overnight camp for rising 7th through 12th graders on June 26-28. Beginners are expected to join the day camp, while the overnight camp is targeted toward moderate to advanced players. The camps will include individualized Super Smash Bros. instruction from MU Esports coaching staff, head-to-head tournaments, and on-campus dining. All campers are required to bring...
Read More 
Manchester University names Rick Espeset Staff Member of the Year
Rick Espeset, director of athletics and head baseball coach, has been named the 2026 Christopher W. Garber Staff Member of the Year at Manchester University. The award is named in honor of Chris Garber, who was Manchester’s assistant vice president for operations at the time of his death in 2015, and recognizes an employee who demonstrates steadfast commitment to Manchester University and is a leader and collaborator who keeps the best interests of the University at heart. In the 30 years...
Read More