Mary Katherine “Cricket” Mannheimer

Mary Katherine “Cricket” Mannheimer has devoted nearly four decades to elevating Florida State University’s School of Dance and the arts community. As co-founder and longtime president of Friends of Dance, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography and launching initiatives such as the Workshop for Young Dancers and Patrons for the Dance Theatre. She was the first recipient of the School’s Nancy Smith Fichter Award for alumni service.

A former artistic director, costume designer and ballet instructor in Tallahassee, Mannheimer has also served on the FSU College of Fine Arts Dean’s Advisory Council, where she chairs the Development Committee and is Council Chair-Elect. Her creative contributions include more than 20 years of floral designs for FSU’s Football Sod Cemetery, recognized as one of the 100 Greatest Traditions in College Football.

Beyond FSU, Mannheimer has chaired major fundraisers for Big Bend Hospice, served as a Stephen Minister and trainer at St. John’s Episcopal Church, and was named one of Tallahassee’s “25 Women You Need to Know.” She and her husband, Douglas (FSU B.A. ’76, J.D. ’79), are part of a proud Seminole family that includes 20 FSU graduates with 28 degrees.