Medical school’s administrative and legal affairs leader receives national recognition

Manuel R. Rupe, J.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for Administrative and Legal Affairs in the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University, has been recognized by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) for his outstanding service to the higher education legal profession. 

The NACUA Distinguished Service award recognizes individuals who have given extraordinary service both to NACUA and to institutions of higher learning over an extended period of time in legal or other capacities and those who have made outstanding contributions to the work of the association and to its recognition in legal and educational professions.

Rupe joined CMU in June 2009, serving as vice president and general counsel before joining the medical school in 2020. In his current role, Rupe leads the college’s Offices of Legal Affairs, Faculty and Staff Employment Services, and Healthcare Information Technology, and provides oversight for all senior administrative, legal and regulatory matters. He is also an integral member of the Advancing Health Together Executive Steering Committee, working to bring the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine to its new home on the MyMichigan Health campus in Saginaw.

“Throughout his career, Manuel has earned the respect of colleagues for his thoughtful leadership, sound judgment and unwavering commitment to advancing the mission of higher education,” said senior leader Tina Thompson.  “He plays an important role in helping our college navigate complex legal affairs while keeping our focus on educating future physicians and serving our communities. This award is a fitting recognition of his commitment to excellence and we are grateful for the knowledge and expertise he brings to our institution.”

Rupe has served in various leadership roles for NACUA for over 20 years, having served on its board of directors from 2016 to 2019. its Committee on Annual Program from 2014 to the present. its Committee on Legal Education from 2010 to 2014. and the editorial board for the Journal of College and University Law from 2004 to 2010. He has also served as a speaker, moderator and session coordinator for numerous conference sessions on diverse higher education legal topics.

Rupe also served three terms as the chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, which consists of the general counsels for Michigan’s public universities, as part of the Michigan Association of State Universities and as vice chair for a term for the committee.  Rupe has presented nationally at higher education institutions and as part of both Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Legal Education sessions.  Rupe also teaches a course on Higher Education Law in CMU’s College of Education and Human Services and as part of the Medicine and Society course at the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine.

Prior to his tenure at CMU, Rupe also served as associate university counsel and special assistant attorney general at the University of Colorado; assistant general counsel at Ferris State University; and associate attorney at the Kreis Enderle law firm. He earned his doctor of philosophy from Western Michigan University and his juris doctor from DePaul University. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science with a secondary teacher certification from Kalamazoo College. 

The Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University was founded in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, in 2010 and was named by Covenant HealthCare in 2025.  The college will soon be moving to its new home in the MyMichigan Health CMU Medical Education building on the MyMichigan Health campus in Saginaw.