David Manuel, right, and his wife, Betty Coe Manuel, were introduced during an Oct. 31 on-campus news conference.
Drury names Manuel its next president
Brian Brown
Posted online
Drury University officials named the school’s 17th president this morning at a news conference at the O’Reilly Family Event Center.
David Manuel, the chancellor and an economics professor at Louisiana State University in Alexandria, will succeed Todd Parnell on June 1.
Lynn Chipperfield, chairman of the Drury Board of Trustees, introduced Manuel and his wife, Betty Coe Manuel, to the more than 100 people who attended the news conference. Chipperfield said Manuel’s passion for education and his respect for the culture of the campus and community stood out among a field of more than 60 candidates and three finalists.
“He has the academic credentials and the leadership background to lead Drury successfully into the future,” Chipperfield said. “Beyond that though, I’ve mentioned Drury’s culture and Dave is Drury. He understands and appreciates the unique culture of not just Drury but of Springfield and the southwest Missouri area. I have every reason to believe that he and Betty Coe will become important parts of our community.”
Manuel beat out David Steele, the dean of the business school at San Jose State University in California, and David McInally, the executive vice president and treasurer at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, who on Oct. 19 accepted the president’s post at Coe College in Iowa.
Manuel brings an economics background to the private liberal arts school. He holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Mississippi, and he received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nicholls State University in Louisiana. Before working at LSU-Alexandria, Manuel was the vice president of academic affairs at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, 2000-08. For 10 years before that, Manuel served as the dean of the Bill Greehey School of Business at St. Mary's.
Manuel said his background should make him a well-rounded leader at Drury and allow him to be able to navigate different constituencies to bring distinction to the school and prepare students to enter the business community.
“The keys to preparing Drury University for its next level of prominence rest on establishing its collective vision, enlivening that vision with strategies, and supporting the strategies with implementation plans that are both realistic and demanding,” Manuel said. “Achieving aspirations also requires measured risks, steadfastness and a collective dedication that is embraced by everyone in this room and everyone at the university.”
John Twitty, former City Utilities general manager and a member of the Drury board of trustees, said Manuel’s leadership experience stood out among the other candidates.
“He brings CEO experience to the position,” Twitty said, referring to Manuel’s role as chancellor. “It is different being king, and he has that knowledge as well as a real interest in Drury and its future.”
Manuel will assume the role held by Parnell since 2007. Parnell, a 1969 graduate of Drury, worked previously as the CEO of Springfield-based bank The Bank, where he led a merger with Signature Bank.
Moseley’s Discount Office Products was purchased; Side Chick opened in Branson; and the Springfield franchise store of NoBaked Cookie Dough changed ownership.
