Manny Rodriguez

"I am especially interested in understanding how students make meaning of their educational experiences and how institutions can create opportunities that support belonging, agency, and long-term success."

Manny Rodriguez Rivera, Ed.D. is the Associate Director for Teaching Excellence and Research. He works with faculty and academic units on course design, curriculum innovation, faculty development, and educational research.

His work spans a wide range of initiatives that support teaching, learning, and academic innovation across the university. Manny leads and contributes to projects such as the Inclusive Course Redesign Initiative (ICRI), the development of new courses and programs, experiential learning initiatives, faculty learning communities, and the advancement of the General Education experience. He also helps coordinate university-wide programs and events, including the annual Faculty Retreat, the Civil Discourse Speaker Series, and Off Syllabus with Manny, a podcast exploring teaching, learning, and higher education. In addition, he partners with faculty, departments, and campus units on curriculum development, educational research, faculty support programs, and strategic teaching and learning initiatives.

His research interests include experiential learning, student belonging, science identity development, STEM education, faculty development, educational innovation, and equitable student success. He is particularly interested in how educational experiences, relationships, and institutional structures shape students' learning, agency, and future pathways.