Joan Mandle has been the Executive Director of Democracy Matters since 2001. Prior to that, she was Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Colgate University from 1990-2001, where she also directed the college’s successful Women’s Studies Program, and founded and supervised Colgate’s Center for Women’s Studies. Her teaching and her extensive published work explore social change and social movements. Professor Mandle also has taught sociology at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, and Penn State and in Tianjin, China. While on leave from Colgate in 1997 and 1998 she was a Distinguished Visitor at both the Institute for Social Change at the University of California at Berkeley and the Women’s Leadership Institute at Mills College. In 2001, Professor Mandle left Colgate University to accept the position as Executive Director of Democracy Matters.

Professor Mandle has been actively involved with many efforts to reform the political system. She spearheaded a two-year grassroots organizing drive in Oakland, California and in San Francisco that resulted in the successful passage of significant campaign finance reform in both those cities. Mandle also has had extensive direct experience with the electoral system, having served as Campaign Manager for incumbent Congressman Robert W. Edgar of Pennsylvania in both 1984 and 1986. In San Francisco in 1998, she worked on Barbara Boxer’s successful Senatorial race.

Over the years, Mandle has received widespread recognition for her political work. Most recently, she was awarded the League of Women Voters of Oakland’s “Civic Contribution Award” for her campaign finance reform work in the Bay Area, and the Sociologists for Women in Society’s “Feminist Activism Award” for a lifetime of service and activism.

Democracy Matters, founded by NBA player Adonal Foyle, has offered internships in political organization and social change to students at over 600 high schools, colleges and universities since 2001. Mandle lectures widely at these schools and to civic groups and organizations as well on subjects of democracy, women, and political change. In 2009 she hosted a radio series on WRCU in Hamilton, NY called “Democracy Matters.”

Megan recieved her BA in Engligh Literature and Education from Wheaton College and is a candidate for an MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management from the School for International Training.  She has a strong background in Education and has participated in political activism supporting constitutionality, campaign finance reform, and political transparency.  She has taught in Taiwan and has extensive community and volunteer experience. 

Emily recently graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a B.A. in government. While at Claremont McKenna, Emily worked at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government on issues like redistricting and local economic development. She has also worked as an intern at a D.C. lobbying firm, on a statewide coordinated campaign in Massachusetts, and in Congressman Edward Markey’s district office. Emily’s research interests include democracy reform and issues of governance like election reform and representative government. Emily also enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time near the ocean.