David Manos ‘83, currently an assistant director of housing at Penn State, has been instrumental in identifying and designing an effective traffic flow and parking scheme for the annual fall campus arrival since 2002. This is no small task; it involves working with University Police, Campus and Event Parking, the Office of Physical Plant and others to coordinate the arrival of 14,000+ students and their vehicles to campus in three days with minimal congestion. Only an extremely dedicated and logistically minded person with maximum patience could take on this job.

David embodies these qualities and more. Several years after receiving a B.S. in Agronomy, he returned to his alma mater to work in Housing and Food Services, and it is evident that his devotion to Penn State has only grown stronger through the years. In addition to repeatedly coordinating and successfully executing the campus move-in, David has taken on several other duties to support the school. In his time as a staff member, he has been a pioneer for several critical campus initiatives, including working with the Office of Physical Plant energy engineers to develop the first educational energy awareness program to reduce energy consumption on campus. He also worked closely with State College Borough Health officials, the Penn State Cooperative extension and the entomology department to form the Centre Region Bed Bug Coalition.

David is also the inaugural advisor to the recently formed Clown Nose Club, a student organization whose philosophy is that “everything we do revolves around the central belief that people matter. We are sold on the fact that interacting with people in creative, positive and personal ways should be the norm. We also believe genuine positivity is wildly contagious and worth spreading.” You can learn more about the Clown Nose Club at www.facebook.com/PSUClownNoseClub.

David is passionate about his work and it shows in the time, energy and enthusiasm he brings to it on a daily basis. He is never too busy to listen to a concern or idea, regardless of who is bringing it to his attention. Outside of work, he brings this same passion to his family and his faith. In addition to supporting his wife, children and grandchildren, Manos has been a leader on many levels in the local and statewide Yokefellowship Prison Ministry for the last 27 years and has served as the co-chair of the Centre County United Way/Penn State Trash to Treasure Sale since 2004.