Manhattan College Announces Two Major Administrative Appointments

Dr. Colette Geary ’82, currently vice president for enrollment management, has been named interim vice president for mission and strategic initiatives effective January 30, 2023. 

Geary has had a long career in education. She spent three years as the 12th president of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, and was the first laywoman to ever serve in that position. She also previously served as the senior vice president for strategic initiatives at the College of New Rochelle, and spent 14 years at Manhattan as both dean of students and director of the Counseling Center.

“We are grateful to Colette for her tireless efforts on behalf of the College’s admissions initiatives,” said Br. Daniel Gardner, FSC, president of Manhattan College. “She joined our College community at a critical time during the COVID-19 crisis and skillfully navigated our enrollment efforts throughout that uncertain period to the present day. Colette’s degree and research in theology from the University of Notre Dame, completion of the Lasallian Leadership Institute, and current role as a representative on the DENA Mission and Ministry Council make her a perfect candidate to lead the core piece of our Lasallian and Catholic charism, during Br. Jack Curran’s sabbatical. Her previous roles as a college president and an executive vice president put her in an ideal position to advise Manhattan College on strategic planning and partnerships.” 

Geary received her bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College, a master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in psychology from Stony Brook University.

In another major campus announcement, Kevin Cavanagh ’96 ’00, a former Manhattan College director of admissions and financial aid, returns to the College as the new vice president of enrollment management, effective January 30, 2023. 

Cavanagh brings more than 25 years of enrollment management experience, most recently as vice president for institutional integration at Bloomfield College, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He has held high-level leadership enrollment management positions at Iona College, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the College of New Rochelle. 

Cavanagh’s connections to Manhattan College go back more than 60 years. His father Paul Cavanagh ’56, graduated with a degree in civil engineering and the younger Cavanagh received both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Manhattan College. Cavanagh is also a member of the orientation committee and a graduate of the Lasallian Leadership Institute. His wife Kristin Cavanagh ’04, ’05 (M.S.), graduated with both undergraduate and master’s degrees in education. 

“I am pleased to welcome back Kevin Cavanagh,” said Br. Daniel. “His expertise in enrollment management, tested leadership skills, and longstanding Jasper pride make him an ideal leader for this division. I look forward to working with him on initiatives that further enhance the College and its Lasallian mission.”