College boss collects Royal honour for services to education

The chief executive of Derby College Group has been to Windsor Castle to collect a Royal honour recognising her services to education.

Mandie Stravino recently attended an investiture ceremony where she was presented with her OBE by the Princess Royal.

Mandie has worked in further education for 27 years and was appointed chief executive at DCG in 2012.

She has also held a number of non-executive and governance roles.

Mandie chose to continue her post-16 education in an urban further education college; she valued the experience as not only did she achieve high grades across the board, she also developed wider skills and attributes which prepared her to progress and succeed in work, life and higher education, ultimately achieving an MBA.

She began her career in further education at what is now one of the largest urban further education colleges in the country. After a brief spell out of the industry, she returned to the world of further education, finally taking up the post at DCG.

As a product of further education herself, she is a champion for social justice, supporting young people and adults alike to use the power of education to drive social mobility.

Mandie said: “Attending the investiture at Windsor Castle will always be a memorable occasion in my life and it was particularly special to receive the honour from the Princess Royal who I met when she officially opened the Roundhouse College back in 2010.

“I have been extremely humbled to be recognised, particularly in the company of so many altruistic citizens who have had such a significant positive impact on their communities.”