Manasco named chair of Speech-Language Pathology at The W
Mississippi University for Women has appointed Dr. Hunter Manasco as chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology.
“Dr. Manasco has demonstrated strong leadership and a collaborative approach in his interim role and is well respected on campus and in the community,” said Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “He is well positioned to advance the department’s continued growth and impact.”
Manasco has served on the university’s faculty since 2008 and is a professor of speech-language pathology. He previously served as graduate program director. Prior to joining The W, he spent nine years at Misericordia University and worked as a speech-language pathologist in a range of clinical settings, including acute care, long-term care, hospice, adult rehabilitation and school-and hospital-based pediatrics.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve as chair,” said Manasco. “I look forward to supporting our students, faculty and alumni while continuing to strengthen this historic program.”
Manasco serves on the university’s Institutional Review Board, Graduate Council, Undergraduate Research Committee and Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee. He served as Faculty Senate president from 2021 to 2022 and as vice president from 2020 to 2021.
In 2025, Manasco received The W’s Excellence in Research Award, which recognizes faculty whose scholarly work has made sustained contributions to their field.
He has authored four books and two textbooks. His most recent, “Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Language, and Hearing,” was published in 2023.
Manasco has presented at the regional and national levels for organizations including the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Alabama, the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Together for Autism.
He earned his doctorate from the University of South Alabama. His areas of specialization include neuroanatomy, aphasia, motor speech disorders, traumatic brain injury and autism. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Montevallo, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Birmingham-Southern College.
Manasco has held national certification in speech-language pathology since 2005 and is licensed in Mississippi. He is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association.