Elizabeth Manuel, Senior Director of Student Services

Elizabeth A. Manuel serves as the Senior Director of Student Services overseeing the Division of Student Affairs for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, which focuses on increasing college access and higher education attainment rates among all West Virginians. She specializes in grassroots community collaboration, making higher education accessible for low-income students, primarily for those first-generation students with multifaceted socio-economic circumstances.

Ms. Manuel has been fortunate to work with innovative teams dedicated to the advancement of higher education opportunities in West Virginia for nearly two decades and is currently responsible for the development and integration of statewide college access and student success initiatives. During her time at the Commission and Council, she secured funding for several grant programs, including a $24.5 million federal GEAR UP grant. Early in her career her efforts were dedicated to economic and workforce development among West Virginia’s most rural communities. She has served as an adjunct faculty member and serves on various local, state, and national committees. She earned both her bachelor's degree and master's degree from Marshall University.