Q&A with Marcia Rozell
Executive Director, Visit Manhattan
Q: You love Manhattan more than just about anyone I know. Let’s start simple—what makes Manhattan, Kansas so special?
A: It’s a college town—that’s what brought us here—but it’s more than that. It has incredible amenities, and ultimately, it’s the people who make it special. That’s what sets Manhattan apart.
Q: It always comes back to the people. No matter who you ask, that’s the answer.
A: It is. It really is.
Q: Let’s rewind a bit. Where did your story begin?
A: My dad was a construction engineer, so we moved around quite a bit. I was born in Florida, and then we lived in Iowa and Connecticut before settling in St. Louis. I’m the youngest of four, and St. Louis is really where I put down roots.
It was a wonderful place to grow up. There was always something to do, and it was a different time—you could ride your bike all evening and come home when the streetlights came on. It felt safe. It felt simple.
Q: From there, how did your path eventually lead to Manhattan?
A: I went to college in Columbia, Missouri, where I met my husband. From there, we both went to the Northwest for graduate school—he was at Washington State in Pullman, and I was at the University of Idaho, just eight miles away.
We absolutely loved that time. We were constantly exploring—camping, traveling, adventuring. We didn’t have much money, but that didn’t stop us. In fact, it probably made us more intentional about experiencing everything we could.
After that, we moved to Iowa City for more graduate work and had our two kids. Then about 30 years ago, Kansas State brought my husband to Manhattan as a professor in animal science. We came for an interview, fell in love with the community, and decided to stay.
Q: What was it about Manhattan that made you fall in love so quickly?
A: It was the feel of the community. It was welcoming. It felt like a place where you could raise a family. And that’s exactly what we did.
Q: You’ve always had that adventurous spirit. Where do you think that really took hold?
A: The Northwest years definitely sparked it, but it really deepened during our sabbatical in Scotland.
Q: A year in Scotland—that’s not something most families do. What was that like?
A: It was the hardest and best year of our lives.
We lived in Glasgow for just shy of a full year. Our kids were in third and fourth grade, and we enrolled them in local schools because we wanted them to fully immerse themselves in the culture.
Looking back, we did a lot of that year by faith. We showed up without a place to live. My husband had to leave for meetings shortly after we arrived, so I was there alone with the kids for a week. But everything worked out.
Q: That had to shape your kids in a big way.
A: Completely. It changed their perspective on the world and on people. They learned what it felt like to be new—to be the outsider—and that made them more compassionate.
Our son was even nicknamed “the kid from the colonies.” But they embraced it. And now, that experience still defines them. Our daughter has lived on six continents, and both kids have gone back to Scotland multiple times.
Q: You didn’t just live there—you explored it.
A: Oh, absolutely. We traveled all over Europe. We took trains, buses, public transportation—whatever we could.
One of our favorite things was visiting castles. We bought a castle pass that paid for itself after eight visits… and we ended up going to 72 castles.
Some of the best moments were in places where we were completely alone—just us, wandering through history, using our imagination. We even created a game called “Castle Tag” to make it fun for the kids.
Q: That kind of experience probably changes how you see travel forever.
A: It does. It also changes how you travel.
When we went to Scotland, we had 16 pieces of luggage between the four of us. Now? We travel with one backpack each. You realize you don’t need much. And if you forget something, you can always get it.
More importantly, you learn that travel is about immersion—not stuff. It’s about experiences, people, and memories.
Q: That mindset seems to align perfectly with what you do now. How did your career with Visit Manhattan begin?
A: I started as a service coordinator, which is really a frontline role. It’s all about making sure visitors have a great experience so they come back.
From there, I moved into tourism sales, then into sports and leisure tourism, and eventually became the director in May of 2023.
It’s been a journey of growth—for me and for the organization.
Q: What does your role look like today?
A: A big part of it is connection. Connecting people, businesses, opportunities—that’s really the heart of it.
We also focus heavily on marketing the community, supporting local businesses, and making sure visitors see the very best of Manhattan.
Q: Tourism has evolved a lot. What’s been the biggest shift?
A: Technology. Everything is at your fingertips now.
People don’t rely on printed maps the way they used to. They’re using their phones to research, plan, and navigate their entire experience. So we have to make sure our digital presence—our website, our photos, our videos—is strong and constantly updated.
Q: Manhattan itself has changed quite a bit over the years too.
A: It really has. When we moved here in 1997, it looked very different. Even in the last couple decades, the growth has been incredible—downtown, Aggieville, new developments, new businesses.
But growth doesn’t happen without effort. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes—challenges, decisions, collaboration. And I feel a responsibility to help make sure our local businesses succeed.
Q: What excites you most about where Manhattan is headed?
A: The potential. We have so many strengths—the university, the military presence, strong leadership, a creative and engaged community.
My hope is that we become the best version of ourselves. Not trying to be everything to everyone, but really leaning into what makes Manhattan unique and doing that exceptionally well.
Q: Final thought—what defines Manhattan at its core?
A: The people.
It always comes back to the people.
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Marcia Rozell has spent a lifetime exploring what makes places memorable, but for the executive director of Visit Manhattan, the answer to what makes Manhattan special is simple: the people. That belief is rooted not just in her work, but in the winding path that brought her here.
Born in Florida while her father worked as a construction engineer, Rozell spent her early years moving from state to state before her family eventually settled in St. Louis. She describes her childhood there as active, adventurous, and shaped by a time when kids stayed out on their bikes until the streetlights came on. Later, college in Columbia, Missouri led her to meet her husband, and graduate school carried them to the Pacific Northwest, where their love for exploring truly took hold.
That spirit of adventure only deepened over time. After a stop in Iowa City, where the couple welcomed two children, Kansas State University brought the family to Manhattan nearly 30 years ago when her husband was hired as a professor in animal science. They came for an interview and quickly fell in love with the community, eventually raising their children here.
One of the most formative chapters in Rozell’s life came during a yearlong sabbatical in Scotland. Living in Glasgow with two grade-school children, the family immersed themselves in the culture, traveled extensively, and visited an astonishing 72 castles. The experience shaped how the family viewed travel, community, and even hospitality. It also helped explain why Rozell seems so naturally suited for tourism work.
She began her career with Visit Manhattan as a service coordinator, eventually rising through tourism and sports sales roles before becoming director in May 2023. Today, she sees her job as one of connection: linking people, businesses, and experiences in ways that help the community thrive. Manhattan has changed dramatically since 1997, she says, but its greatest strength remains the same. In the end, what makes the Little Apple stand out is what has always made it home: its people.