Manhattanville College Announces Inauguration Week Events, April 1-5, 2024

The installation of Manhattanville President Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., will be celebrated along with the transition to Manhattanville University 

 

PURCHASE, NY, March 18 – Looking toward the future, Manhattanville is celebrating a new era as it inaugurates its 15th President, Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., and transitions from Manhattanville College to Manhattanville University. The school has a week of events planned to honor and celebrate these historic moments with the theme, “Leading a Valiant Vision.” 

Dr. Sánchez began his term in July after serving for six years as president of Rhode Island College and has quickly become an active member of the community on and off campus. He was recently inducted as a member of the Board of the Business Council of Westchester and was also appointed as a member of the national Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. His focus on curricular innovation, experiential learning, and workforce development are leading Manhattanville into a new era for the next-generation student.  

“This is a significant inflection point in Manhattanville’s nearly 200-year history,” said President Sánchez. “As we officially become Manhattanville University, a recognition of the breadth and depth of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, we are ushering in the next phase of forward-thinking program development and transformative educational experiences. We’re building on a strong tradition of innovation and social action, and I’m honored to be at the helm of this storied institution during this powerful moment.”  

Dr. Sánchez has led Manhattanville through a rebrand including a redesigned institutional seal and new logos. New signage and banners around campus will feature the new brand elements as well as a university launch campaign featuring a “U” visual with silhouetted photos highlighting students. The campaign tagline, chosen through Manhattanville community meetings and focus groups, speaks to a central theme tied to the school mascot: “Always Forward. Always Valiant.” 

“Our elevated status as Manhattanville becomes a university will enhance our ability to live our mission every day as we continue to educate socially responsible leaders,” said Associate Provost Alison Carson, who is Chair of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee. “That’s truly something worth celebrating, and we have a whole week of activities planned to commemorate the transition to Manhattanville University and honor President Sánchez. It was a group effort to plan these activities – which include everything from a day of service to special lectures, a university launch ceremony, a pep rally, an Expo highlighting our innovative programs and the excellence of our students, faculty, and staff, topped off by the inauguration ceremony and a gala – and I look forward to celebrating these special moments with our community.”  

Manhattanville student leaders have been a part of the planning and creating buzz on campus. “I have had the opportunity to meet with President Sánchez regularly and to work with faculty and administration as part of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee,” said Aela Mansmann, Student Body President at Manhattanville. “I shared ideas for engaging students so that they would have a voice in the new branding and be a hands-on part of the university launch.”  

“One idea that I was able to bring to life was student participation in the installation of the new Manhattanville University stone sign at the circle at the entrance of campus,” said Mansmann. “I worked with staff to create an event for students to help install the new letters as we enter a new phase for Manhattanville.” 

The Manhattanville College letters from the previous sign will be handed off to student government leaders at a ceremony at the new sign installation. “The letters from the old sign will live on as a piece of our history in the student government offices,” said Mansmann. “I’m proud to be a Manhattanville student, and I’m excited for this next evolution.” 

Manhattanville traces its roots to 1841 as Catholic academy for girls in Manhattan’s Upper East Side and was chartered as college in 1917. With more than 55 undergraduate programs, 70 graduate programs, and a doctoral program, Manhattanville is continually evolving to meet the needs of today’s students. Manhattanville is getting set to launch several new academic programs that further demonstrate continued curricular innovation to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow. Manhattanville is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and provides a supportive environment for all students including those who are the first in their family to go to college. 

The schedule of events for Inauguration Week includes:  

 

Monday, April 1 
12:30 PM: Day of Service  
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni  are invited to participate.  

Location: Meet in the Castle Lobby. 

 

Tuesday, April 2 
5:00 PM: School of Education Distinguished Lecturer Series  
Manhattanville’s School of Education proudly presents its 39th Distinguished Lecturer, Ms. Elizabeth Green, CEO and co-founder of Chalkbeat and the cofounder of the American Journalism Project. Free and open to the public. 
Location: West Room 

 

Wednesday, April 3 

12:45 PM: University Launch 

Celebrate Manhattanville College becoming Manhattanville University. The event will include the unveiling of banners and signs on campus with the new branding. The Manhattanville radio station and student performances will provide entertainment.  
Location: Reid Castle Circle  

 

1:30 PM: Manhattanville Student Mural Unveiling  

The unveiling of the student-created mural will be facilitated by internationally renowned and widely collected American artist, Chakaia Booker, who will speak to the meaning of public space art. Free and open to the public. 

Location: Berman Center Lobby 

 

2:00 PM: Arthur M. Berger Lecture with Chakaia Booker   

This year’s Arthur M. Berger lecture featuring Chakaia Booker, known for her monumental, abstract public space and gallery works. All are welcome. 

Location: Berman Center Lobby 

 

Thursday, April 4  

2:30 PM: Manhattanville Expo – Valiant Visionaries  

The Expo will include poster sessions, enlightening talks, and Valiant Vision Discussions—a glimpse into the talent and innovation at Manhattanville. Free and open to the public. 
Location: Reid Castle 

 

Events Thursday evening include a dinner and party for students as well as a pep rally to celebrate becoming a university and Manhattanville’s championship teams.  

 

Friday, April 5 

10:00 AM: Installation of 15th President Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D. 

Location: O’Byrne Chapel 

 

6:00 PM: The Inaugural Gala 

For ticket and sponsorship information visit alumni.mville.edu.  

 

All events will include giveaways with Manhattanville’s new logos and seal. For a full list of Inauguration Week events, visit https://www.mville.edu/about/office-of-the-president/presidential-inauguration.php.  

 

About Manhattanville  

Manhattanville College is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. For three years in a row, “U.S. News and World Report” has ranked Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution in New York among Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The college serves more than 1,300 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the college offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities and 22 NCAA Division III teams.  

 

 
Contact:  
Cara Cea, cara.cea@mville.edu, 914-323-1278 or 914-906-9680.