Dr. Carmen K. Manning, Ph.D.

Dr. Carmen Manning has served as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences (formerly Education and Human Sciences) at UW-Eau Claire since 2014. She is also the co-principal investigator for UW-Eau Claire’s $9.4 million Workforce Innovation Grant. Prior to serving as dean, Dr. Manning was a professor in the English department at UW-Eau Claire for twelve years and chair of that department for three years. Manning has an extensive background in the field of education. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and secondary education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and taught high school English in southeastern Minnesota before earning her master's degree in English from Colorado State University. Manning earned her doctorate in education from the University of Chicago, where she began conducting research in the Chicago Public Schools as well as across the country.

A main focus of Manning's research has been partnering with national foundations and research groups to use authentic writing assessment in lieu of standardized testing to evaluate K-12 student learning to inform pedagogy and practice. Manning has collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, the National Writing Project, Educational Testing Service, the Hewlett Foundation, the Consortium for Chicago School Research, SRI International, and the American Institutes for Research.

As dean of UW-Eau Claire's College of Health and Human Sciences, Manning serves as the intellectual and administrative leader of the college and the chief advocate for the college's academic programs, students, faculty, and staff.