Hall of Fame Member Biographies

Jean Bell Manning

Born and educated in Texas, where she earned an Ed.D. degree from North Texas State University, Dr. Jean Bell Manning has served Oklahoma Higher Education with distinction by her guidance of Langston University as Vice-President of for Academic Affairs from 1986 to 2007. Dr. Manning taught English and reading in public schools, junior colleges, and colleges in many places, including the University of Liberia before taking permanent residence in Langston in 1978. She served first as Associate Professor of Communication and later as Vice-President. She has been responsible for the inauguration of numerous academic programs at Langston, including the E.P. McCabe Honors Program, a degree program in the Division of Applied Sciences, and Master's Degree program in Education. Dr. Manning also obtained accreditation for several offerings at Langston, including the American Dietetic Association and the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. During her years at Langston, she obtained grants from various agencies totaling just under forty million dollars.

She has been honored by the town of Waco, Texas as Woman of the Year and has been named the Outstanding Soror of the Phi Delta Kappa National Sorority. Dr. Manning has also contributed her talents to programs that build schools in Africa. In 2007 Dr. Manning retired from Langston University becoming Langston's first female Vice-President Emeritus and accepted the position of President at the University of Liberia. Through her exemplary service as administrator, the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame is proud to claim Dr. Jean Bell Manning as one of its 2007 members.