Colleen C. Manning, associate dean for The Fred Parks Law Library at South Texas College of Law Houston, first dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, like her dad.
Manning spent a lot of time with her father at the University of Illinois veterinary clinic, in the company of iconic horses like Budweiser Clydesdales and 1973’s Triple Crown winner Secretariat. She changed her mind about her career while working toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois (U of I).
“Calculus was a deal breaker, so I earned a degree in psychology,” she said.
The youngest of three children, Manning was born in Champaign, Illinois, into a family of lawyers. Her grandfather and her great-grandfather were attorneys who also had been adjunct professors at Harvard Law School. Later, her brother and brother-in-law would both become lawyers.
Looking back, Manning said it seemed almost inevitable that she would wind up in law school. After taking a year-long break from her studies to help care for her father, who was seriously ill, she sat for the LSAT with no preparation.
“A degree in psychology meant I would need a graduate degree to advance,” she said. “And I was a bit curious about how I might do on the LSAT exam.” She scored well, proving to herself that she had an aptitude for the subject.
“I was accepted at impressive law schools out of state,” Manning said. “But I wanted to stay close to home to be near family to continue to help with my father, so I went to the University of Illinois College of Law.”
After passing the Illinois bar exam, Manning accepted an offer from the firm where she’d been clerking as a law student. “It was a close knit, family-like environment,” she said. Changes in senior leadership led her to consider making a change a few years into her law career. “I was an associate, working in the basement, and I remember thinking, ‘What do I really want to do?’ ”
She reflected more on her future after a conversation with a law clerk who was considering studying library science and changing careers to achieve greater work/life balance. Before long, she had enrolled in a two-year graduate program in library and information science at U of I. Because she also was hired to be a graduate assistant performing work on legal issues for the Army Corps of Engineering Research Lab (CERL) on U of I’s campus, her tuition was waived.
After earning her master’s degree in only 12 months, Manning said yes to a job offer from the library at Ohio Northern University School of Law. She joined as a reference librarian and left as the interim director six years later.
During her tenure there, she discovered she enjoyed being a law librarian much more than being a practicing attorney. “I felt I was well suited for the job,” Manning said. “I enjoyed the teaching aspect of the librarian role, and I still do. I love that ‘aha!’ moment you get from students.”
Manning’s husband, a tax attorney, was accepted to an LL. M. program in taxation at the University of Florida. She was hired at nearby Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville as a reference librarian. Early in her tenure, she served as a reference librarian, head of access services, and head of public services — all in one year’s time. After 13 years, she was supervising a staff of 20 as interim director and searching for her next opportunity.
“I had some family living in the Houston area, so I applied to become director of the Law Library at STCL Houston,” Manning said. She was hired in 2015 as director of the Law Library and as an assistant professor of law.
In 2025, she was promoted to associate dean. She still enjoys the ever-changing demands of running a law library and being a professor.
In addition to her duties as an associate dean, Manning supervises South Texas Law’s online J.D. program, teaching advanced legal research skills courses and giving guest lectures in other courses. She leads the Law Library and its staff of nine employees plus temporary and student workers.
“I am dedicated to making sure the people on my team can grow and flourish, professionally and personally,” Manning said. “Whether they gain experience teaching workshops, taking on leadership roles in professional associations, or learning about the budget process, I am proud of them and their success.”
Additionally, she is preparing to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Fred Parks Law Library later this year.
When not working, Manning spends time with her family, including Charley, her most recent rescue canine. “Charley is our fourth bulldog,” she said. “Each dog has had behavioral and health issues but growing up spending so much time with my dad at the vet clinic gave me the training and temperament to take good care of them.”
Manning’s advice to her students reflects her experience. “I always encourage them to explore the many careers available to those with a J.D.,” Manning said. “Not all of them require the actual practice of law. Do not be afraid to change directions and pursue a career that is different than you had imagined. I found that a law degree can open doors you might not even be aware of.”
