Manhattanville President Frank D. Sánchez Presented with Proclamation

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins recognized Manhattanville University with a proclamation for their recent achievement of university status and the inauguration of President Frank D. Sánchez.

In a press release Latimer said: “Earning this distinction as a University is a clear indication of Manhattanville’s continued growth, leadership and forward-thinking momentum. As we also celebrate the inauguration of Frank D. Sánchez as Manhattanville’s first Latino president and the achievement of this transition, this is a new era of inclusivity and excellence that I know will have long-standing positive repercussions for the future of Westchester and our students.”

Manhattanville’s 15th President, Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., was officially installed in a ceremony on April 5 ending a weeklong celebration which included marking its transition to a university. The week ended with a festive gala in the university’s chapel emceed by NBC’s Lynda Baquero that attracted 270 guests and raised more than $650,000 to support students.

More than 350 people gathered in the school’s O'Byrne Chapel for the inauguration of President Sánchez, the first President of Manhattanville University. Dignitaries including U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, and State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John B. King, Jr. shared congratulatory remarks via video. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul sent representatives from her office to attend the installation.

The weeklong celebration, themed “Leading a Valiant Vision,” included everything from a day of service to special lectures, a university launch and branding reveal, a pep rally, the unveiling of a student mural, and an expo highlighting the school’s innovative approaches. Renowned sculptor Chakaia Booker was the keynote for the annual Arthur M. Berger lecture which followed the mural unveiling.

The inauguration’s keynote speaker, Chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY), Felix V. Matos Rodriquez, Ph.D., spoke of President Sánchez’s dedication to first generation students and to his hands-on approach as an educational leader: “I cannot imagine a better leader for Manhattanville at this moment in its history and it makes me excited for the future of this university. I’m proud that Frank’s tenure as CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs from 2011 to 2015 was an important step in his remarkable career,’’ said Matos Rodriquez.

He added “At CUNY President Sánchez is remembered for his commitment to serving students, for connecting with them, for listening to them, for constantly thinking about ways to make their college experience better and helping them to stay on track to complete their degree and graduate into fulfilling careers.”

He also made note of the shared roots and values of Manhattanville and CUNY. The two institutions were neighbors before 1952 when Manhattanville moved to Purchase to make room for the expansion of CUNY. As Matos Rodriguez spoke of the history, at around 31 minutes into the ceremony and video recording, the earthquake shook the chapel. He paused, looked around, and quipped that it was the subway and that Manhattanville was trying to replicate being in the city. Subsequent comments and social media posts referenced “The Sánchez Effect” that was “moving the earth.”

“We share so many values,” said Matos Rodriguez. “Both have roots dating to the 1840s and long histories dedicated to active opportunity and social progress. We both started out as pioneers of women’s education and today we both serve diverse populations and have worldwide reputations as champions of inclusiveness and social and economic mobility, and institutions that stand in service of the public good.”

President Sánchez spoke of his vision for the future of Manhattanville and shared announcements on new initiatives including a partnership in Portugal to provide student internship opportunities, and a leadership training and scholarship program designed to cultivate the next generation of pioneering women leaders. Dr. Sánchez also announced a distinctive partnership that will enable Manhattanville to be the first American university to integrate advanced AI capabilities designed to prepare graduates for the dynamic demands of the global job market.

“Throughout our history and educational refinement, Manhattanville has always held close a powerful and compelling mission, intended to not just transform and elevate lives, but to transform and elevate our humanity,” said President Sánchez.

He elaborated on Manhattanville’s long history of advocating for social reform from its founding in 1841 as an all-women’s academy in Manhattan to its fight for civil rights as early as 1933 more than 30 years before Martin Luther King, Jr. and by admitting the first black student in 1938.

Dr. Sánchez added, “This week, guided by the visionary wisdom of our Board of Trustees, we publicly launched our transition from Manhattanville College to Manhattanville University. Our new university name, seal, logo, and brand signal a path of both evolution and elevation. Consistent with our record of ingenious and influential action, today Manhattanville is an institution with a progressive spirit, a strong ethos of continuous improvement, and a proud Valiant identity.”

As Dr. Sánchez closed his remarks, he spoke of the changing landscape of higher education and his vision for Manhattanville as a transformative force. “Through our collective strength, we will embrace a vision that is dynamic, modern, and cutting-edge, with student learning, success and transformation at the heart of it,” said Sánchez.

“Let us now, together, lead a valiant vision and embrace, drive and realize a more prosperous, modern, and next generation university,” Sánchez concluded.

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 (BCW) and was also appointed as a member of the national Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). His focus on curricular innovation, experiential learning, and workforce development are leading Manhattanville into a new era for the next-generation student.

Manhattanville is getting set to launch several new academic programs that further demonstrate continued curricular innovation to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow.

About Manhattanville: Manhattanville University 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 university 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 university 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 24 NCAA Division III teams.

Manhattanville has also been recognized by “U.S. News and World Report” for Ethic Diversity. The university has earned a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, a recognition of its diverse student population. For more than six consecutive years, Manhattanville has been named to the Colleges of Distinction list which recognizes colleges that excel in student engagement, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. The university is also among those that have earned the Equity and Inclusion badge from Colleges of Distinction, while continuing to be recognized for excellence with Business, Education, and Career Development badges. The school is also one of the few to offer an undergraduate certificate in design thinking, giving students a leg up with employers looking for critical thinking skills.