C+ V Community Leadership Conversation with Dean Knight-Manuel and Dean Wilson
At DU, we believe in the power of human connection and creating space to grow together. We also recognize that our fast-paced world does not always allow us time to slow down and engage in meaningful ways. To that end, we invite you to take a break in your day and join us in getting to know some incredible new leaders in the DU community.
In C+V’s latest Community Leadership Conversation, Provost Mary Clark moderated a conversation with Dr. Michelle Knight-Manuel, Dean of the Morgridge College of Education, and Dr. Torrey Wilson, Dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. They shared their passions, their journey to the University of Denver, and what makes them who they are.
For instance, did you know that Dean Wilson is a New Orleanian for life despite having lived away longer than there? He loves the culture, the food, the vibe/music. It's also important for him to put family first.
And Dean Knight-Manuel grew up in the city, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, of the Little League World Series. Her undergraduate major was French, and it has opened worlds of possibilities for her.
Watch this recording for an authentic conversation with some incredible leaders and catalysts for change on DU's campus!
Featuring DU Community Panelists:
Mary Clark, Moderator
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Mary Clark serves as the provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Denver. With expertise in the areas of higher education law, women’s legal history, legal ethics, judicial politics, and property, Provost Clark also holds an appointment as professor in the Sturm College of Law.
Prior to being named provost at DU, Provost Clark served as interim provost, deputy provost, and dean of faculty at American University, associate dean for faculty & academic affairs at AU’s law school, director of its doctor of juridical science program, and acting director of its Law and Government Program.
Dr. Michelle Knight-Manuel (she/her)
Dean of Morgridge College of Education
Dr. Michelle Knight-Manuel is Dean, Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Previously, she served as Associate Dean and Senior Advisor to the Provost/Dean at Teachers College, Columbia University. Earlier in her career, she was a former middle school ESL/French teacher and college advisor in Oakland, California. Her scholarly work includes three distinct yet complementary strands of inquiry: college readiness and access, immigrant youth’s civic strengths, and culturally relevant teacher preparation and professional development. Her two books, co-authored with Joanne Marciano, are Classroom Cultures: Equitable Schooling for Racially Diverse Youth and College Ready: Preparing Black and Latino Youth for Higher Education through a Culturally Relevant Lens. Michelle Knight-Manuel has also served as the Director of Culturally Relevant College and Career Readiness for the New York City Department of Education’s Expanded Success Initiative and as a Senior Research Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of College and Career Readiness at Boston University. She is the former executive editor of Teachers College Record.
Dr. Torrey Wilson
Dean, GSPP DU, Father, Brother, Son, Mentor
2013-2014 President of National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology
Dr. Torrey Wilson was appointed as Dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) in August 2022. He previously served at the University of Indianapolis as Dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences. Prior to that, he served as Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and as Chair of the Doctoral Clinical Psychology Program at Adler University in Chicago. In addition, he has held various leadership positions outside of academia. Dr. Wilson earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Loyola University-Chicago and his B.S. in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling at Xavier University in New Orleans. His areas of research and teaching expertise include the experiences of under-represented minority populations in group therapy, sexism and sexual harassment in doctoral training programs, and the experiences of black couples in counseling. Dr. Wilson’s earlier work focused on social support and self-efficacy for BIPOC students. Dr. Wilson will be leading GSPP’s growth into the domain of allied health programming, including sports medicine, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, and other programming that complement GSPP’s historic focus on applied mental and behavioral health.
Resources:
A film I have used to help people think about certain realities of of life. Worth looking at as a way of understanding that the world is changing exponentially. And our challenge is to evolve or be consumed by anxiety/discomfort with change.