She was awarded her Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University in 2006 after winning a Purdue University Foundation Dissertation grant, as well as a university doctoral-level fellowship. Dr. Manninen earned her M.A. in philosophy in 2001 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she was granted an advanced opportunity fellowship. She received her Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a Bachlelor of Arts in English Literature from Florida International University in 1999. She joined the faculty at ASU's West campus in 2006.