From Microbiology to Mentorship: Susan Manahan Retiring After Three Decades at Gardner-Webb

Honored as Faculty Emerita, Assistant Professor of Biology Leaves a Legacy of Service and Student Success

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—When Gardner-Webb begins its 2026 Spring Semester on Jan. 12, Assistant Professor of Biology Susan Manahan won’t drive 70 miles to teach her classes that day. After 31 years at the University, Manahan is retiring on Dec. 31. At the November faculty meeting, Manahan was granted the rank of Faculty Emeritus status upon her retirement.

Manahan will deeply miss her colleagues and students, but she will not miss her two-and-a-half-hour commute each weekday. The drive hasn’t always been wearisome. Over the years, Manahan used the time in the morning to gather her thoughts and plan for the day ahead. The radio was tuned to NPR, oldies rock, or classical music. On the way home, she treated the trip as a mental reset, intentionally leaving the activities of the day behind.

During her tenure at Gardner-Webb, Manahan has championed scientific exploration and community service. She developed both of these traits early in life growing up in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. As a little girl, she often rode her bike miles from home, stopping to examine the plants and animals in the forest. Her parents modeled service for her and taught her the blessing of helping others through their faith. As a Girl Scout, she also learned the values of community service and environmental stewardship.   

After graduating with degrees in microbiology and nutrition from Penn State University, Manahan’s first job was working as a quality control technician for Bachman Pretzel Company in Reading, Pa. She was responsible for chemical analysis of snack foods, package inspections, and environmental hygiene control. After moving to North Carolina with her husband, Wayne, she became a microbiologist for Stouffer Foods in Gaffney, S.C. Her job involved microbial testing of ingredients and final products.

After about six years, Manahan needed a change from working in an industrial environment. She lived near UNC-Charlotte, so she decided to obtain her master’s degree in biology. While there, she worked as a research assistant, and she met Dr. Barbara Burkett, a GWU professor. “She was collaborating with a faculty member and suggested I interview for the microbiology job at Gardner-Webb,” Manahan related.

While interviewing for the position, Manahan sensed that GWU was a good fit for her, because of its Christian foundation and emphasis on missions and service. She remembered the interview committee’s surprise when she told them she was a volunteer firefighter. “They asked, ‘So, do you bring drinks to the firemen?’” Manahan reflected. “I said, ‘No, I have my own fire gear. I fight fires.’ And I think, that was one of the things they saw about me. I think outside the box a little bit, and I am service-minded and one to help other people.”

She was impressed with the kindness of the Gardner-Webb faculty and staff and the care they had for students. Manahan accepted the position, which was her first full-time teaching job. Burkett became a mentor, and she received support, advice and teaching tips from former professors and faculty emeriti, Dr. Tom Jones and Dr. Les Brown.

The late Dr. Jack Partain, Gardner-Webb professor emeritus of religion, helped her navigate her first accreditation process. She is thankful for everyone she’s had the privilege to serve alongside through the years. “I work with a lot of nice people,” she acknowledged. “I have a lot of nice students. So, it’s the people I work with and see every day—that is why I stayed here that long—and what I’m going to miss the most.”

Some of her most memorable times were the trips she took with Burkett and Partain. Manahan and her husband went with Burkett and a group of students to the Amazon. They saw many animals and went across the walkway in the sky. Partain led a faculty trip to Kenya and Tanzania, where he had served as a missionary. A rewarding moment of the trip was meeting the Maasai people.

Beyond these unforgettable travels, Manahan’s dedication to students extended beyond the classroom. A highlight of her career has been mentoring undergraduates in their independent research and helping them achieve their goals. Her students have pursued various professions in pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and wildlife biology.

Manahan worked to ensure students had the tools and opportunities to investigate and analyze real-world scientific challenges. One of her first initiatives was to apply for and obtain a grant to purchase equipment for gel electrophoresis, which uses an electric field to separate molecules like DNA, RNA, or proteins by size and charge. These systems expanded research opportunities for Gardner-Webb students that enhanced their applications for graduate school or career opportunities.

Manahan was chair of the Department of Natural Sciences from 2006 to 2011 and supervised the building of the 23,514 square-foot Laboratory Center annex to Withrow Hall that was completed in 2012. She and the faculty collaborated on the plans and visited other universities to gather ideas. Once finalized, Manahan met with the contractors and reviewed blueprints.  

During the same time period, she was the director for the University’s Service-Learning Program. Through her efforts and initiative to collect data on the various service projects completed by classes, teams, and other campus groups, Manahan applied for and received:

• The President’s Honor Roll for Community Engagement from 2006 to 2015.
• Honors for economic, general service, and interfaith opportunities in 2014.
• InterFaith Challenge Service Honor Roll in 2014 and 2015.
• Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement in 2010.

Manahan also promoted and assisted in organizing large service projects, such as Octoberfest, Enchanted Forest, and Dr. Seuss (reading) Day. Another major achievement was partnering with former GWU Registrar Lou Ann Scates in 2011 to create the Little Bulldog Backpack Program, which is still active today, collecting donations and providing food to elementary school children in need.

“We have a lot of people involved in service, and I just feel that is an important aspect of Gardner-Webb,” Manahan stated. “As we’re trying to teach students how to think and how to learn and how to be better people, service should be a big component of what we do.”

About Faculty Emeritus Status

Emeritus Status is reserved for those who have retired from full-time teaching at Gardner-Webb University with at least 15 years of service. Symbolic in nature, this rank recognizes outstanding faculty contributions to the life of Gardner-Webb.

About Gardner-Webb

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at gardner-webb.edu.