New Professor Spotlight
Professor Rich Manieri of the Media Communications Department
By Paige Miller, Features Editor
What led you to become a professor at Asbury University?
“Lots of prayer — I prayed a simple prayer that God would make me useful, and within three weeks, I was hired.”
Describe your college career and your previous jobs.
“I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts from Villanova University and, after that, received my MFA from Lesley University in Creative Writing. After college, I worked at two different news stations in a two-year time period. I worked in Louisiana and then Spartanburg, South Carolina. I soon transferred to a Fox affiliate in Philadelphia, where I worked for the past 11 years. Since college, I’ve been a government spokesman, a speech writer, a lacrosse coach, columnist and professor. [Of all of these] being a college professor is the best job I’ve ever had.”
Do you have any goals for the semester? If any, would you mind sharing?
Goal 1: “Establish relationships with students.”
Goal 2: “Raise the level of knowledge in students.”
Goal 3: “Faith informs work. Successfully integrate our faith and our work.”
What do you want students to know about you?
“That I really care about them — about their lives, what happens to them, their struggles, etc.”
What are your hobbies, and what is one fun fact about you?
Hobby: “I’m heavily involved in crossfit. I do it for the challenge.”
Fun Fact: “I have a Boxer-Mastiff mix named Sweet Pea.”
What is your favorite Bible verse?
“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35
“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
What was the biggest challenge that you faced while working in journalism?
“Trying to figure out how to navigate through a very competitive, often cutthroat, business and deal with so many personalities and still maintain an effective witness for Christ. That’s a challenge — at least it was for me.”
