Amanda is a local Ithacan who lived in Florida and California before the rolling hills, farmland and beautiful gorges of upstate NY lured her back to Ithaca and to Cornell. She earned her bachelor’s in Human Development from Cornell and her Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from UPenn. In Becker House, Amanda works closely with the House Professor, GRFs and URFs to create a vibrant and engaged community. Amanda has facilitated seminars in Becker on applied positive psychology and mindfulness meditation, as well as initiated various programs to support student well-being. Her passion is in teaching psychological fitness and helping students thrive. Before coming to Becker House in 2006, Amanda spent ten years working with international graduate students at Cornell. She also worked for eight years with elementary school children as a teacher and director in after school programs. In the early years of her career she was a supervisor in a health club and for several years she was the director of athletics for a boys and girls club. Amanda competed in the team sport of Ultimate Frisbee and in a variety of obscure individual Frisbee sports at the national level. In addition, for many years she coached the Cornell women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. While retired from competition and coaching, she continues to enjoy the sport casually in her spare time. Amanda lives at Becker with her son Julien and her two dogs, Alfie and Jasmine. She enjoys playing Frisbee golf on Cornell’s 9-hole course (on North Campus), going to the Farmer’s Market and traveling whenever possible.