Dr. Mandy Manna

Mandy has served as the Farm Administrator of Fox Chase Farms since 2019, pioneering experiential learning in agricultural and environmental education for urban youth in Philadelphia. Managing the largest public school district-run educational farm in the United States, she has overseen operations that have resulted in over 50,000 student visits.

Mandy has secured significant grants, accounting for $100,000, to establish initiatives such as the District’s first student-managed farm store and a Poultry Science Program engaging special education students. Notably, she recently secured a $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to develop students through the state’s first Apprentice Program in Controlled Environment Agriculture, addressing food insecurity in Philadelphia’s underserved areas.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education from Delaware Valley University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, a degree of Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from North Central University.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Mandy is a proud mother to her son, Billy, who shares her passion for making a difference in the world. Mandy’s roots in agriculture trace back to her upbringing on a farm in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg