Frederick Bonato Named President of Manhattan University

After serving nearly 10 months as interim president, Frederick Bonato, Ph.D., was officially named president of Manhattan University.

Dr. Bonato, who previously served as St. Peter's University's provost and vice president for academic affairs, brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education. His career includes senior leadership roles at  Montclair State University where he oversaw program development and helped expand health and clinical education offerings.

“In my relatively short amount of time as interim president, I really fell in love with Manhattan University,” he told The Press. “The community is incredible. And the surrounding community around the university. I get a real sense of feeling. There’s pride there, you know?”

In the interim role, Dr. Bonato focused on laying a foundation for the university’s future, prioritizing new academic programs that respond to real-world needs. He also emphasized student access, program flexibility and career readiness – themes he plans to carry forward into his presidency.

Among the first major initiatives set to roll out under his leadership is a new master’s program in health informatics. The degree is designed to prepare graduates for careers in healthcare and technology, a field Bonato said is growing rapidly as hospitals, clinics and care providers rely more heavily on data systems and digital tools. 

Additional graduate-level business, financial, and marketing analytics programs will debut in the coming year. All are being developed to grow sectors of the economy and the evolving expectations of employers.

At the same time, Dr. Bonato is expanding the university’s offerings for working professionals and nontraditional students. Several new graduate programs will be delivered in hybrid formats, combining online instruction with occasional in-person weekend sessions.

“My vision is straightforward, it’s [to] help students,” he said. “We have many different types of students, and that’s how the world has changed, too. We’re more diverse. We want to be really aware of their needs — to meet students where they are.”

Dr. Bonato said those flexible pathways are essential to Manhattan’s future, especially as prospective students look for programs that balance academic quality with real-world accessibility.

He also cited the university’s reputation, Catholic values and deep community roots as central to his decision to pursue the role permanently. 

Manhattan University was founded in 1853 as part of the Brothers of the Christian School order. The Lasallian Catholic roots go back to 1680, when Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers, founded the order.

Since then, the Brothers of the Christian School have created schools and institutions around the globe to serve de La Salle’s mission. Manhattan is one of over 900 institutions created by the brothers in over 80 countries. 

What ultimately affirmed Dr. Bonato’s commitment, outside of the strong catholic values from the brothers, was the level of support he felt across campus.

“There is a community here who’s willing to go along with that vision I just talked about,” he said. “People here love Manhattan University. They want it to thrive.”

Bonato said he plans to lead through collaboration, a philosophy he adopted long before his time at Manhattan. He believes the best ideas emerge when everyone has a stake in the outcome.

“This is a team effort to run the universities,” he said. “Everyone has to share the vision to move it forward. It can’t be the president trying to call all the shots. That won’t work. I know it won’t work.”