2010 Keynote Speaker - Dr. Sylvia Manning

Sylvia Manning has served as President of The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools since July 1, 2008.

She came to the HLC from eight years as Chancellor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she
focused on advancing the education of 25,000 extraordinarily diverse students, a rapidly expanding
research portfolio, a full-spectrum healthcare enterprise, and extensive urban engagement. During that
period the campus developed fifty acres of student residences, retail establishments and private housing
and doubled its research expenditures. Prior to that, as Vice President for Academic Affairs for the
University of Illinois, she prepared the University budget, fostered inter-campus collaborations, and
created the University of Illinois Online. From 1975 to 1994 she served as associate director of the Center
for the Humanities, director of Freshman Writing, chair of the English Department, Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Studies, and Executive Vice Provost at the University of Southern California. She began
her academic career at what is today the California State University, East Bay.

Her recent public service positions include membership on the Board of Directors for the Noble Network
of Charter Schools in Chicago and co-chair of the mayor’s Chicago Green Ribbon Committee.

Manning holds a B. A. from McGill University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in English Language and Literature
from Yale University, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Northeastern University. Her
scholarly work was in Victorian literature.