LOGAN, W.Va. –New Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Interim President Elizabeth Manuel says she plans to continue advancing the school’s academic programs while also focusing on increasing enrollment during her tenure.
Manuel was named interim president on May 28.
Manuel said on a recent appearance on MetroNews Midday that higher education has always been a passion of hers, especially because she lives near the college.
“More importantly being from Logan with Southern in the backyard, I have a personal vested interest in the institution, so this is an exciting opportunity for me,” Manuel said.
Manuel succeeds interim President Dr. Corley Dennison. Dennison was appointed interim president in April 2025 after President Pamela Alderman was placed on administrative leave over actions that the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education said put the school’s accreditation at risk.
Manuel has more than 25 years of experience, including fiscal oversight and management of state and federal grants that supported educational programs and student initiatives. Most recently, she served as a K-12 administrator, overseeing student affairs, operational initiatives and infrastructure development.
She also spent more than 15 years with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System. During her time with the commission, she helped secure $30 million in funding to support student success across the state, oversaw the system’s Division of Student Affairs and served as a member of the chancellor’s cabinet.
Manuel said she believes enrollment is the college’s biggest challenge, but she has a plan to address it.
“We’re going to look at how we can work with business and industry, K-12 in our service regions to increase enrollment as well as looking at how we might better serve veterans, adult learners,” she said.
Manuel said the college also plans to reach out to thousands of individuals who have earned some postsecondary credits but did not complete a degree, inviting them to return and finish an associate degree or earn stackable credentials through the college.
She emphasized that Southern offers 30 associate degree and certificate programs from which prospective students can choose.
Manuel said the way colleges support high school students has changed dramatically over the years.
She said there has been a greater emphasis on student support services, including pre-college academic assistance, college readiness programs for high school students and expanded opportunities in career and technical education.
Manuel said, again, Southern will continue working with its K-12 partners to promote college readiness through early-entry programs and dual-credit courses.
“That will allow us to focus on those students making sure they’re ready and they understand the pathways and not just going in haphazardly, looking at what they need to go into, but maybe having those conversations early on and helping them prepare,” Manuel said.
Following the challenges the college faced last year, Manuel said she wants to continue moving the institution forward.
“So, our focus is going to be moving things forward, how we can better serve our community, creating sustainable partnerships especially where workforce development is concerned,” Manuel said.
She also praised the staff, faculty, board members and community members surrounding the college for their efforts to support students.
Manuel said the college plans to build on the dedication of its staff and the support of a community that wants to see Southern’s students succeed.
“I think that’s a recipe for success when you have that and a small community, and we’re going to capitalize on that because at the end of the day their interests is seeing our students being successful,” she said.
In a release announcing Manuel’s appointment, the college said, “Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College welcomes Manuel into this leadership role and looks forward to her continued commitment to student success, workforce development and community engagement across southern West Virginia.”
Manuel holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Marshall University.