As a management professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, Jennifer Manegold was the founding director of the Southwest Florida Leadership Institute. There, she has spearheaded the addition of new curricular offerings for management majors, while also instilling the spirit of service and leadership in her students.

“I have always required a service-learning project in my classes. To date, over 600 students have partnered with more than 80 organizations across Southwest Florida,” she says. “We’ve also established a new university institute that offers training and development programs and business leadership competencies to Southwest Florida companies.”

Manegold is also a frequent guest speaker for community groups, a consulting editor for an academic journal and a member of the SWFL FutureMakers Coalition. She won FGCU’s Chair Excellence Award in 2020, FGCU’s Commitment to Service Award in 2018 and the LCOB Best Paper Award in 2016.

What are your future aspirations?

I love working in higher education, and I may continue along a university administrative track as a long-term career option. More immediately, I plan to continue to seek opportunities to serve others, build stronger community partnerships and help create innovative university programs.