Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Caroline Leipf is the Managing Director of the Mandell Theater where she enjoys leading performance and event operations for Drexel University’s Mandell Theater and URBN Annex Black Box Theater.  These theatres are home to the Drexel Department of Performing Arts dance, music and theatre programs and performance ensembles, and serve the University and outside organizations as spaces for a range of special events, lectures, films, concerts, and performances.  Caroline also oversees Mandell Presents, an interdisciplinary performing arts series designed to engage a broad University and community audience on contemporary issues. 

Prior to joining the Drexel Department of Performing Arts in May 2022, Caroline spent nine seasons with Penn Live Arts, headquartered in the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania.  While at Penn, she conceived and planned the 2018 Philadelphia Dance for PD® Symposium, convened the first Student Advisory Council for Penn Live Arts, and produced the annual Philadelphia Children’s Festival, the oldest children’s festival of its kind in the United States.  She advanced quickly and wore many hats over time spent on the PLA marketing and development teams, in the Office of the Executive & Artistic Director, as artistic contract administrator, and as head of education and engagement programs.   

Caroline began her career in arts administration at The Three Arts Club of Chicago (now 3Arts), where she managed events and facilities for then 90-year-old Chicago landmark and residence for female artists.  Other highlights have been producing and managing a children's theatre touring company for Walnut Street Theatre, reaching over 80,000 children in schools each year; coordinated entertainment for a 35-acre, 12-stage, 11-weekend outdoor festival; and even a stint outside of arts administration for the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey (BIANJ).  Caroline also moonlights as consultant Director of Education for the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, a festival her husband co-founded and artistic directs.  

Caroline is an alumni representative on the Goucher College Campus Master Plan Steering Committee, and a past member of the Alumni Association of Goucher College Board of Directors.  She served on the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Selection Committee, and is a 2017 alum of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) Emerging Leader Institute.  She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Goucher College, a BFA in Theatre and a BA in Communications from the University of Rhode Island.  Saving the best for last, the greatest role of Caroline’s life is mom to Aaron (2014), Ethan (2018), and Victoria (also 2018).