Jill Manske is Professor Emerita at the University of St. Thomas. She has over thirty years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education.
Her roles at St. Thomas have included chair of the Department of Health and Exercise Science, associate chair of the Department of Biology, Director of Women’s Studies, and Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives for the Office of the Provost.
In 2015, Jill was appointed by President Julie Sullivan to develop and coordinate a proposal to establish the Dougherty Family College at St. Thomas. The Dougherty Family College initiative was successful. In 2017 the DFC opened with a mission to provide a rigorous, affordable, dynamic two-year college experience for students who face some or more of the many barriers to accessing and succeeding in higher education.
Outside of St. Thomas, Jill has served as a visiting research fellow at the Center for Infectious Disease and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, an American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Scientific Thinking and Integrative Reasoning Skills (STIRS) Scholar, a two-time recipient of National Science Foundation grants to fund laboratory instruction, a three-year summer fellow at the Elon College Center for Engaged Learning, as well as chair of the Special Education Advisory Council for St. Paul Public Schools.
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in both scientific and higher education journals. Many focus on teaching and learning, with emphasis on access to research and hands-on learning as high-impact learning practices.
Jill received a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine, a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University, a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota.
She is passionate about supporting students to and through higher education and is excited to bring her insights and experience in higher education to the mission of College Possible.
