Manuel
The University of Indianapolis president will depart to take a role as head of DePaul University in Chicago this summer.
DePaul and UIndy announcements confirmed the move Tuesday. Robert Manuel has served as UIndy’s president for a decade, and will hand off the reins to interim president Phillip Terry on July 2.
Terry will serve as the interim president until the college’s board of trustees completes a national candidate search, UIndy officials said in the announcement.
Terry worked as an attorney for 15 years and was the chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Monarch Beverage Company for 30 years, retiring in 2020, the announcement says.
Terry also has experience in education. Terry has served for a decade on UIndy’s board of trustees and has served as executive-in-residence with the university’s Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center. In that role, Terry mentored students and alumni to expand their professional networks and realize their career potential, the university’s announcement says.
“In appointing an interim president, we sought a candidate with administrative experience, deep ties to the university and community, and someone who was familiar with the ongoing initiatives and strategic planning of the university,” David Resnick, chair of UIndy’s board of trustees, said in the announcement. “Phil brings all that to the table and more. The board has tremendous confidence in Phil and his leadership as well as his commitment to ensuring the University of Indianapolis remains a leader in higher education, not only locally but nationally.”
Terry’s experience as a board member helps give him important experience when it comes to the ins and outs of college leadership, he said in the announcement.
“I am deeply honored to accept this interim appointment and serve as a steward for the University of Indianapolis at a time of incredible momentum. I have the benefit of having been a board member through the entirety of Dr. Manuel’s tenure, so I know the work that has occurred these last 10 years to usher in tremendous growth at the university and I am excited to make sure that work continues throughout this important transitional period,” Terry said. “I am a lifelong southsider and have a tremendous amount of pride in both our university and the city of Indianapolis. We will continue to be an anchor for development in our community that will help both Indianapolis generally, and our neighborhood and campus community specifically.”
Terry’s familiarity with the university will pay dividends as he tackles his new role, Manuel said in UIndy’s announcement.
“I have worked very closely with Phil throughout his time on the university’s board of trustees and most recently as its immediate past chair,” Manuel said. “He has provided important counsel to myself and to my senior leadership team as we navigated a challenging last two years. As a result, he is intimately familiar with university operations and will be able to deftly guide the university, without interruption, as the board conducts a presidential search.”
Manuel will take office as DePaul’s 13th president on Aug. 1. The college’s board unanimously selected him to the position April 21 after a nationwide candidate search, DePaul officials said.
“I’m inspired by the life-changing opportunities a DePaul education creates for its students, as well as the community it has built for faculty and staff,” Manuel said. “I am excited by the potential partnerships that are possible because of the robust and diverse community in which DePaul lives. The Vincentian charism of DePaul provides grounding for forward-looking opportunities in a time of necessary change in higher education, and I am excited to lead DePaul to a bright tomorrow.”
During his time at UIndy, Manuel oversaw the construction of three new residence halls, the development of the university’s 150,000-square-foot health pavilion, created a five-year strategic plan, focused on supporting the success of first-generation college students and underrepresented populations, and named the college’s first diversity, equity and inclusion officer.
“I have always been guided by the principle that a university serves as a vital community partner, anchor and catalyst for the development of local quality of life initiatives and economic infrastructure,” Manuel said in the announcement. “I have worked diligently to build networks for students with faculty, staff, alumni and industry to maximize their potential in becoming engaged citizens who contribute to their communities. I believe institutions are most impactful when they value the talents of their faculty and tie them to the needs of the community. This approach raises the collective impact for everyone and offers students the opportunity to see how their education serves their local communities.”
