Amanda is interested in the intersections between people, food, conservation and educational systems. She has extensive experience as a qualitative researcher and facilitator working with people and communities interested in protecting water quality, managing forests, experimenting with new crops or production systems, and engaging in agroforestry or other sustainable agricultural practices. She is particularly interested in exploring the complexities of social and environmental justice, gender, and decolonization within this work. Her doctoral research is focused on how higher education institutions can better prepare students to address wicked challenges in food systems and conservation. She is working with the University of Minnesota, University of British Columbia, and Montana State University on their collective effort to redesign their food systems majors to help students develop the skills they need to make meaningful change and bring about more just and sustainable food systems. This work is strengthened by her past experience as a small scale produce farmer. In addition to her research, Amanda also enjoys teaching, and works with the Global Programs & Strategy Alliance at the University of Minnesota to help instructors at all levels and across the University to design more inclusive, internationalized courses.
Advisor
Dr. Dean Current and Dr. Nicholas Jordan
Education
M.S. Natural Resources Science and Management, University of Minnesota
B.A. Anthropology, Hamline University