Research

Research Areas

  • Sustainable development, environmental planning, regional planning
  • Collaborative planning, consensus building, negotiation, civic engagement & empowerment
  • Social capital, social networks
  • Governance capacity, community capacity, capacity building, collective action

Funded Research

Dr. Mandarano has been instrumental in securing more than $3,000,000 in external funding and has managed more than $350,000.  Externally funded research projects are listed below.

William Penn Foundation Focus Areas for Concentrated Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Phase I. Grant award $200,000 to Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University: December 2019-July 2021. Subcontract: $15,000.

US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Area-wide Planning. Grant award: $200,000 to Rowan University; April 2015-September 2019.  Subcontract $20,488.

US Environmental Protection Agency. Grant award: $999,995; October 2013 – September 2018. An Integrated Strategy to Improve Green Infrastructure Approaches in Philadelphia. Co-Principle Investigator sub-award: $212,000.

Wells Fargo and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Grant award: $25,000; July 2014 – August 2015. Green Neighborhood Tool Kits. Principle Investigator.

Wells Fargo Sustainable Communities Pilot Program. Grant award: $35,000; December 2014.  Principle Investigator.

William Penn Foundation, via subcontract to Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Total grant $75,000 subcontract award: $50,838; July – September 2013. Preparation of an Implementation Plan – Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster. Co-Principle Investigator. *

*Based on this grant the Center for Sustainable Communities was subsequently (March 2014) awarded $1,235,000 by the William Penn Foundation to implement restoration projects identified in the Implementation Plan.

New Kensington Community Development Corporation. Contract amount: $19,960; July – September 2010. Sustainable 19125 Environmental Performance Measures. Principle Investigator

Rotary International. Contract amount: $5,000; January 2008. Opportunities for Partnerships, Courses and Research in San Pablo, Ecuador.