Carlow University Names New Provost
Rhonda Maneval had previously served as interim provost and dean of the College of Health and Wellness.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLOW UNIVERSITY
Carlow University announced on Wednesday that its hunt for a new provost has come to an end.
Rhonda Maneval was appointed to the role of provost and vice president for academic affairs following her service as interim provost and dean of the College of Health and Wellness, a position she was hired for in the fall of 2023. University officials call Maneval an accomplished academic leader and healthcare innovator whose distinguished record will serve Carlow well.
“Rhonda stands as a role model for fearless leadership, arriving in Pittsburgh with an unwavering dedication to the university’s needs from day one,” Kathy W. Humphrey, president of Carlow University, says in a press release. “Rhonda has been profoundly influential during her tenure. She is deeply committed to fostering student success and has guided so many towards their personal triumphs here at Carlow and beyond.”
Prior to joining Carlow, Maneval served as vice dean of the College of Health Professions at Pace University in New York City for nearly seven years, and was the director of nursing at Michigan State University. She holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Penn State University, a master of science in nursing education from Villanova University and a doctorate in education from Penn State University. She first came to Carlow in the summer of 2022.
During her tenure leading the College of Health and Wellness at Carlow, Maneval championed the implementation of graduate-level programs in speech language pathology, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy and physical therapy — something university officials say has bolstered enrollment and expanded the school’s global reach.
She has also helped to develop partnerships with UPMC to establish a surgical technology program and an associate degree program in respiratory therapy. Additionally, she has championed mental healthcare, developing a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at the university.
An estimated 26 million Americans who would benefit from mental healthcare go without because of a national shortage of qualified practitioners — something Maneval hoped to address through the creation of the program.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as provost of such a remarkable institution. Carlow’s deep commitment to the Sisters of Mercy mission aligns perfectly with everything I believe academic leadership should stand for,” Maneval says in a press release. “My focus will be on continuing to build programs that open doors for our students while ensuring that our faculty and staff are supported in the important work they do every day.”
Demonstrating her commitment to developing Carlow’s mission, Maneval has also raised more than $2.65 million in scholarships for Carlow students, securing a $2.6 million Advanced Nursing Education Workforce grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, supporting scholarships for students in Carlow’s master of science in nursing family nurse practitioner program. She also raised significant funds for the establishment of a new advanced virtual reality simulation laboratory.
