Manohar Singh, Ph.D.

Bio: Dr. Manohar Singh has built his career in higher education as an award-winning scholar and teacher, as well as an innovative and entrepreneurial administrator. His compassionate leadership philosophy is firmly anchored in his commitment to public higher education as a catalyst for transforming lives and is guided by consultation, persuasion, and the consensus-building virtues of shared governance.

With a proven track record of strategic institutional transformation, student success, and fiscal sustainability, Dr. Singh has served as the Interim President of Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) since August 2023. In this role, he has successfully navigated the institution through significant financial and enrollment challenges, achieving fiscal stability and fostering sustainable enrollment growth through strategic recruitment and student persistence initiatives. Under his leadership, WCSU launched the ambitious Western Rising (2024–2030) strategic plan, reversed years of enrollment decline, expanded its athletic programs, and introduced market-responsive, innovative academic offerings—including the first Master of Artificial Intelligence program in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system.

A firm believer in the power of collective vision and inclusive excellence, Dr. Singh has championed academic innovation by leading the establishment of the School for Graduate, International, and Career Studies. He has strengthened shared governance mechanisms, reinforced a culture of open communication, and fostered collaboration throughout the institution. Under his leadership, WCSU has expanded several student support initiatives, including implementing a professional advising model, reimagining first-year experience courses, redesigning general education, and enhancing financial support alongside wraparound services to ensure holistic student success. Dr. Singh is known for his highly visible and deeply engaged leadership within the broader community. His ability to forge meaningful partnerships, advance advocacy campaigns, and secure philanthropic support has been instrumental in increasing fundraising by 40% this past year.

Before his presidency at WCSU, Dr. Singh served as Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University, where his team achieved a 39% enrollment growth over three and a half years and led the development of over forty new graduate and continuing education programs. Previously, as Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Humboldt State University, he expanded academic offerings, introduced innovative degree programs, and built strategic partnerships that enhanced student academic and professional success. As Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Humboldt State University, he co-led a focused multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign to establish an R.N. to B.S. nursing program, successfully aligning institutional priorities with community needs.

As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Singh is a passionate advocate for inclusive, affordable, and accessible education that establishes institutions as engines of social and economic prosperity. An American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, Dr. Singh brings a global perspective to leadership, shaped by his academic tenure at institutions across the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia, and India. A respected scholar, he has made significant research contributions in finance, economics, and corporate governance, publishing extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals. His work has earned him multiple awards for research and teaching excellence. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, an M.A. in Economics from the University of Waterloo, and a B.A. (Honors) and M.A. (Honors) in Economics from Punjab University in India.

Dr. Singh and his wife, Tejinder, have been married for 34 years and lead a blessed life with their loving family. Their son Amitoj and daughter Simran are both on the path to pursuing their doctorates. Dr. Singh is an avid golfer and enjoys riding motorcycles, playing the drums, designing fashion clothing, and taking walks with their beloved Goldendoodle, Cooper.

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