About Me

Amanda sits under a tree, reading a book. — *A bookworm in her natural habitat*

“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”
Joan Didion

Vegan. Content Creator. Professor. Bookworm. I go by many titles. But, mainly, they all involve writing.

Whether I am creating a lesson plan, or planning social media content, writing sits at the core of everything I do.

And I take it seriously.

What once began as a hobby became the focus of my work and career goals. I discovered at a young age that I am a crafter of words: I can string them together, make them dance, and, most importantly, use them to inspire and help others.

Amanda stands with a book in the middle of a daffodil field

Writing and teaching, as careers, are something of a second act for me: for over a decade, I worked in healthcare. But I always knew I wanted to go back to school and complete my education.

The opportunity presented itself in the most unlikely of ways: one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid-off.

Of course I experienced a panic; who wouldn’t, after losing the full-time position and income security they’ve relied on for 10+ years?

But I chose to see this set-back for the opportunity-in-disguise that it was: finally, I had the free time to complete my education.

I enrolled as a student in the English Literature & Criticism track at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, and received my Bachelor’s degree.

Upon graduation, I applied for the graduate program in Professional Writing & Communication, was accepted, and was even offered a teaching fellowship. Now I had the chance to further perfect my skills as a writer, and do something else I dreamed of since childhood: teach.

Within these fields, I found my niche, and gained experience as a writer–particularly in the areas of copywriting, usability studies, and blogging in an academic setting–as well as defining myself as a teacher.

While I always dreamed of teaching, I never knew exactly where or how. In my role as a graduate teaching fellow, I discovered that higher-ed is the place for me. I enjoy teaching college-level courses, and helping students to fine tune their own skills as rhetoricians and writers.

In addition to academic writing and teaching, I enjoy creating content highlighting some of my other hobbies which include reading, baking, and various outdoor activities. I manage several social media accounts, and work as a freelance writer, copyeditor, and photographer.