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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,...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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MU, CFWC hold groundbreaking for phase one of Manchester Mile
Representatives from Manchester University, the Community Foundation of Wabash County, JPR, and the Manchester Mile committee held a groundbreaking for the first phase of the Manchester Mile on Wednesday, May 6. The Manchester Mile will stretch from the corner of Wayne Street and College Avenue down to Market Street, then to Main Street, directly connecting campus to downtown North Manchester. Phase one of the project will begin in June and is expected to be completed by August. New sidewalks, lighting, seating, trash receptacles, and other facilities will be added. Phase two will follow in 2028. This project is funded by Lilly Endowment...
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