Retiring Manhattanville President Successfully Guided College into New Era

The BCW bids a fond farewell to Manhattanville College President Michael E. Geisler who has announced that he will retire effective June 30.  Geisler ushered the school into a new era and guided it successfully through the pandemic.

“Dr. Geisler brought and instilled a vision to merge the traditional strengths of a liberal arts curriculum with the modern requirements of training a humane workforce for tomorrow’s market,” said Michael C. Dunn, an alumnus and Chair-elect of the Manhattanville College Board of Trustees, speaking on behalf of the Board. “Far more than an administrator, Dr. Geisler immersed himself in the culture and mission of Manhattanville, deeply appreciating our more than 175 years as an institution of higher education. He has been an essential part of Manhattanville’s history, and his contributions will be felt for generations to come.”

As a tribute to Geisler’s tenure, the Board of Trustees announced that it would rename the school’s Center for Design Thinking, one of Geisler’s signature accomplishments, in his honor. They are also granting him President Emeritus status at the college.

Since his arrival in 2016, Geisler has moved BCW Member Manhattanville College toward a more modern version of a Liberal Arts School, blending the values and the tradition of a well-rounded Liberal Arts education with professional education and other career-oriented programs. Under his leadership, the school established a new School of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2020 and created partnerships including one with the New York Institute of Finance in 2021, which will attract new students and revenue.  One of Geisler’s signature accomplishments was the creation of the school’s Center for Design Thinking.

Louise Feroe, Ph.D., former Acting President and former Interim Provost, will serve as Interim President as the college conducts a national search for Geisler’s replacement beginning this summer.