Dr. Dana Mandell

Dana Mandell is an Assistant Professor of Music at Kutztown University. She currently serves as Assistant Director of the Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU), conducts concert bands and chamber ensembles, teaches courses in music education, supervises student teachers, and more. 

Dr. Mandell recently completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, where she studied with Dr. Kraig Alan Williams. At Rutgers, she served as director of the Rutgers Concert Band and regularly guest conducted the Rutgers Wind Ensemble. She also worked with the Marching Scarlet Knights and the Rutgers pep bands. Her doctoral research has been selected to be presented at several state, national, and international conferences.

Previously, Dr. Mandell held the position of Assistant Band Director at the University of Notre Dame. There, her responsibilities included conducting concert bands, directing pep bands and chamber ensembles, instructing the Band of the Fighting Irish, and teaching courses. 

She earned a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Arizona State University, where she worked as a graduate assistant for the athletic band program and instructed the Sun Devil Marching Band. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she served as a student leader for the Minuteman Marching Band under the direction of George N. Parks. 

Dr. Mandell is an experienced educator whose background includes a combination of several specializations, contributing to a multi-faceted approach to teaching music. She has been an educator in the marching arts for many years and actively serves as an adjudicator, clinician, and consultant for marching bands across the country.