Amanda is a community-based researcher, program evaluator, and a learning specialist. She has been practicing community-based research and evaluation for almost a decade, and teaching about it for over five years. Amanda is currently a PhD Candidate in Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and holds a Master of Arts degree in Community Psychology. As a researcher, Amanda specializes in program evaluation within health, mental health, and social services, and as a PhD student her team won the Canadian Evaluation Society Student Evaluation Case Competition and went on to represent Team Canada at the World Evaluation Competition. Amanda has previously worked in research and evaluation roles within government, academia, and non-profit, including leading the Ontario evaluation within the national Roots of Hope community suicide intervention by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

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Amanda’s passion is in advancing upstream efforts to increase mental wellbeing for all, and in uncovering (and solving) the root causes of mental distress and suicide. She believes research should act as a tool for social justice, equity, innovation, empowerment, and health promotion, and that community-based research can be a catalyst for community and individual wellbeing. Her previous research has explored how to evaluate and implement suicide interventions and has qualitatively documented the experiences of stigma faced by those who have attempted suicide. Amanda is also passionate about teaching and learning, and implementing inclusive, accessible, participatory learning practices into her instruction. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in University Teaching as professional development.​

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Outside of pursuing these occupational passions, Amanda enjoys spending her time hiking, rock climbing, playing ultimate frisbee, or contemplating a good speculative fiction novel. An avid outdoors lover and traveller, she is often found in forests, nears mountains, chasing waterfalls, or in a tent under the stars.