Donna Manganello

Program Manager

Donna is a dedicated youth programs manager who has spent spent most of her career managing and operating youth programs throughout New York. Donna joined Creative Art Works in 2022 and manages a portfolio of in-school and out-of-school time programs for elementary and middle schools. In 2025, Donna was selected to join the Partnership for After School Education's (PASE) Community Council. PASE's Community Council is a select cohort that provides input, accountability, and direction for its programming to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of the field.

Prior to joining Creative Art Works, Donna worked at Manhattan School of Music (MSM) for 10 years. At MSM, Donna was the Director of MSM Summer, an intensive music program for students ages 8 to 17 from around the world. Additionally, she was the Assistant Director of Community Partnerships, providing music programming to more than 2,500 NYC schoolchildren and residents. Donna has also volunteered as a Team Leader with New York Cares, where her responsibilities included teaching weekly after-school dance classes for K-8 students in a transitional family shelter and acting as a mentor to newly trained team leaders.

Donna holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. John’s University with a minor in music and a master’s degree in applied psychology with an emphasis in child and adolescent development from Adler University. Donna is also a fiber artist and Etsy shop owner selling handmade crochet items. In her free time, she enjoys crafting with her daughter.