Meet Amanda

Passion for community and communications

Education

Michigan State University

Masters of arts in strategic communication
June 2022

The Strategic Communications program integrates research and practical experience to bring academic insight to the practical experience of the professional world. The program helped develop Amanda’s core competencies in the digital communication environment. Through this program, she obtained the leadership and communication skills that would benefit any organization.

core classes

  • Persuasion Techniques for Working Professionals
    This course taught the application of persuasion and compliance principles in communications work. Learned to design messages that persuade changes to attitudes and behavior
  • Evaluation Techniques for Working Professionals
    This course developed the ability to conduct and evaluate social-scientific research as it applies to marketing and communications. It is essential to conduct sound scientific research with an understanding of how to calculate and analyze the results.
  • Strategic Message Development
    Learned to employ effective messaging to understand how to deliver persuasive appeal strategies and develop professional communication strategies.
  • Professional Communication Ethics
    As government workers, staff must use ethical standards to build public trust. This course covered the role of ethics in the communications of our organization’s messages.
  • Capstone/Practicum
    The capstone project provided a practical experience in planning and management of strategic communications to further refine one’s communication skills.

Certificate in Media Analytics
December 2024

This program explores the process of translating data into advertising and public relations messages, using data to compellingly and clearly report the results of advertising and public relations activities. Completion is expected by December 2024.

  • Media Analytics for Communication Professionals
  • Audience Analytics
  • Social Media Storytelling

Certificate in Digital Media

This course was designed to expand and enhance knowledge and skills in content creation, curation, branding communication and media strategies. Completion is expected by December 2024.

  • Digital Media Strategies
  • Digital Content Creation, Curation and Promotion
  • Branding and Image Communication

Certificate in Organizational Communication for Leadership

This program expands knowledge and skillsets in communication change efforts, managing conflict, motivating employees, and socializing new hires for integration into productive work teams. Completion is expected by December 2024.

  • Crisis Communication
  • Catalyst Thinking in the C-Suite
  • Organizational Communication for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Grand Valley State University

Bachelors of Science in Geography and planning
minor in spanish
May 2012

The Geography and Sustainable Planning curriculum at GVSU offered the development of strong analytical and problem-solving skills. The study of Spanish encompassed both a study of the language and the investigation of the cultures where Spanish is spoken helping Amanda develop strong cultural competency skills.

Picture of the GVSU library

Geography and Planning courses

  • World Regional Geography
  • Physical Geography
  • Geography of Canada and the U.S.A
  • Cultural Geography
  • Intro to City and Regional Planning
  • Historical Geography of the Amazon
  • Computer Cartography
  • Introduction to Computer Mapping and GIS
  • Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture
  • Research Methods for Geography and Planning
  • Advanced GIS
  • GIS for Economics and Business
  • GIS Internship with Ottawa County
  • GIS Internship with the Community Research Institute
  • Senior Seminar

Spanish courses

  • Elementary Spanish 2
  • Intermediate Spanish 1
  • Intermediate Spanish 2
  • Spanish Conversation and Composition 1
  • Spanish Conversation and Composition 2
  • Advanced Spanish Grammar
  • Intro to Spanish Literary Analysis
  • One-Act Hispanic Drama
  • Spanish Laboratory Theater
  • Advanced Spanish through Literature and Film

General courses

  • American History to 1877
  • Algebra
  • American Government and Politics
  • Government and Politic in Western Europe
  • Intro to Sociology
  • Creative Writing Workshop
  • Chemistry and Society
  • International Relations
  • Autobiography of the Civil Rights Movement
  • Intro to Applied Statistics
  • Supplemental Writing Skills Critical Interpretation
  • Environmental Science