Mandi Fraley Sonnenberg

Background

About Mandi Fraley Sonnenberg

Dr. Mandi Fraley Sonnenberg is the Director of STEAM Projects and Education at St. Teresa's Academy. She came to STA as a full time professor from the School of Education at Rockhurst University in the Summer, 2020. Mandi earned her BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia, certified in early and elementary education, an MA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in education administration, and her doctorate from Saint Louis University in educational leadership. She is concurrently an Adjunct Professor at Rockhurst University where she earned Rank and Tenure in April, 2015. She was the co-creator of STEAM Masters in Education Cohort at Rockhurst University that launched successfully in Summer of 2019. She is also the co-founder and a board member of the STEAM Studio, STEAM Studio is a non-profit innovative space, founded in 2014, which serves students and educators in the Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond. There are two professional working environment locations: Multistudio Architectural Firm and Rockhurst University. She was presented with the 2015 "Excellence in Community-Based Teaching & Scholarship Award" through Missouri Campus Compact. Her colleagues nominated her for this award demonstrating that her work within the higher education community is truly outstanding and inspirational. She received the 2016 "Educator of the Year Award" by the American Institute of Architects, earned by innovative educators using design to improve learning for students. She co-authored the remarkable, research-based book,"Unleashing Creative Genius: STEAM Studio's Impact on Learning," in 2017. In Fall of 2019, Sonnenberg co-authored the published STEAM Studio Curriculum for K-8. All Design Thinking Activities are designed and written for learners to feel frustration and failure as they figure it out and have fun! In the Fall of 2020 while earning her “Leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” Certificate from Northwestern University. In June 2021, Dr. Sonnenberg was awarded with the Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) Excellence in Education Award. GFEL explores ways technology can reshape the way people learn and share knowledge to create educational innovations. In October 2022, the St. Teresa’s STEAM program won the Vanguard Award for the “STEM Innovative Outreach Partner of the Year” for the “Professional Pathways Program” which she started at STA in partnership with UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City) and other KC Metro Companies.