Manhattan University Announces The James Patterson Honors Program

Manhattan University today announced a new and transformational program in the School’s 170+-year history, along with serving as a beacon for other colleges and universities as a national model of excellence. The James Patterson Honors Program will be an institution-wide program involving students and faculty across the three schools of the University.

Starting in 2025, and co-led by James Patterson, a 1969 graduate of the School, and a to-be-selected Program Director, the University will proactively recruit top high school seniors to participate in the program upon matriculation at Manhattan University. The mission of the Patterson Honors Program is to “provide a strong foundation in critical thinking, writing, and creative problem-solving to prepare top students for fulfilling careers in a wide range of industries. Manhattan University conscientiously equips its students to be ethical, successful citizens in the real world.”

With carefully curated academic experiences; valuable writing and leadership workshops; career-development internships; mentorships; and the ability to meet and network with national leaders, elite alumni, and New York City industry leaders, the Patterson Honors Program will profoundly impact the chosen students in their higher education experiences and throughout their careers.

Said Manhattan University Executive Vice President and Interim Provost, Rani Roy, Ph.D., “We are profoundly grateful to Jim for his continued dedication to his alma mater and to his unwavering support to learning, critical thinking, and the importance of developing the whole person. Establishing the Patterson Honors Program will exponentially strengthen Manhattan’s ability to reach the top academic high school seniors. It further places Manhattan University at the forefront of preparing students through a career-ready education, training them to develop into the top business leaders of their generation.”

James Patterson commented, “It is important for me to work with one of my alma maters to enhance a culture of success and achievement for our highest performing students from Manhattan University. Our goal in this leadership program is to provide a solid foundation in the critical areas of writing and creative problem solving coupled with a robust professional preparation and exposure to leaders in a wide range of work environments. Excellence in learning is essential, and I am so pleased to be able to start this program and have an active role in its development at Manhattan University.”

James Patterson’s books have sold over 425 million copies and he holds The New York Times’ record for most number one best sellers by a single author. He graduated from Manhattan University summa cum laude with a BA in English and from Vanderbilt University with an MA in English.