Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins have recognized Manhattanville University for its recent attainment of university status and the inauguration of President Frank D. Sánchez.

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.”

Sánchez responded, “This is a significant inflection point in Manhattanville’s nearly 200-year history. As we officially become Manhattanville University, a recognition of the breadth and depth of our undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, we are ushering in the next phase of forward-thinking program development and transformative educational experiences. We’re building on a strong tradition of innovation and social action, and I’m honored to be at the helm of this storied institution during this powerful moment.”

Manhattanville, one of Westchester’s oldest institutions of higher education founded in 1841, currently enrolls over 2,300 students in its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The announcement about its elevation to university status was accompanied by the launch of a new campaign to support Manhattanville's rebranding efforts with the theme “Always Forward. Always Valiant.”

President Frank D. Sánchez has spent nearly three decades advancing higher education policy, programs, and services towards improving college completion rates and modernizing higher education systems. Dr. Sánchez became the fifteenth president of Manhattanville in July 2023.

In his first eight months at Manhattanville, Dr. Sánchez has led the institution through a rebrand including university seal and logo as it transitioned from college to university status. He has already made significant strides raising the profile and reputation of the institution through broad outreach to alumni, investments in grant development and partnerships with local and national organizations. He has recently been appointed to the Boards of the Business Council of Westchester and the national board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

Dr. Sánchez's tenure as president of Rhode Island College (RIC) from 2016–2022 was marked by significant achievements including elevating the school’s “U.S. News and World Report” social mobility ranking to #2 among New England public institutions, significantly improving academic facilities, increasing fundraising, and dramatically growing student diversity.

Prior to RIC, Dr. Sánchez served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY), where he led the development and implementation of the first systemwide strategic plan for student affairs, supporting more than 500,000 students.

Dr. Sánchez holds a PhD in higher education administration with a concentration in learning, cognition and instruction from Indiana University Bloomington, an MS in student affairs and higher education from Colorado State University, and a BS in psychology with minors in communications and Chicano studies from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.