Cohort 5
Tara Mangan EDUCATION • M.A. in Clinical Psychology West Chester University • B.S. in Psychology King’s College
ENROLLED • Cohort 5
LOCATION • Nescopeck, Pa.
Tara Mangan is an Environmental Studies instructor whose connection to nature came from growing up immersed in it. She lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband, infant daughter, dogs, and backyard chickens. She credits her father’s prioritizing natural environments and learning with her ability to appreciate the lifelong benefits of time spent outdoors. Tara’s interest in the human condition and wellness led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology, then a graduate degree in the same, which allowed her to work as a clinical therapist for several years thereafter. She participated in research about psychodrama and collaborative storytelling to build cohesion in group therapeutic settings. This research provided teaching opportunities, which then opened the door to adjunct instructor work at several colleges. Tara began teaching psychology at multiple institutions for several years before being invited to instruct Environmental Studies courses which focused on psychology and health. Ten years since, she’s been brought into the Environmental Program at King’s College as a full-time instructor, focusing on the interconnection of human and natural systems. She is currently developing sustainability courses for environmental majors and the college’s core curriculum. She co-teaches both place-based ecology courses offered by the program, wherein she takes great satisfaction in seeing students able to connect their course content to real-world experiences and have meaningful interactions with the populations experiencing the environmental issues discussed in the classroom. Tara’s research interests are currently concerned with the various sources of information utilized by college students and how these might affect their environmental literacy.
UW-Stevens Point
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