Amanda Parker is a CEAS alum, having earned her bachelor鈥檚 in chemical engineering and her master鈥檚 in engineering management. She spent several years working as a process engineer at an R&D company in Golden before returning to CEAS in 2012. Amanda has spent the past 10 years in various roles in recruitment, admissions, and enrollment. She is passionate about broadening participation in STEM and increasing access for students who want to pursue a CU engineering degree. Additionally, Amanda shares her knowledge on effective recruitment practices with other colleges and universities throughout the country, specifically in regard to using data to amplify impact.
Amanda lives in Denver with her husband, James, and two daughters, Violet (4) and Olive (2).
What鈥檚 the best way for others to collaborate effectively with you?
I love talking to others in CEAS and across campus about how our work could overlap. Let鈥檚 grab coffee and brainstorm!
Describe one of your favorite traditions.
One of my favorite parts of having kids is getting to relive my childhood through them! I love creating big traditions around the holidays and small traditions that my kids will remember when they are adults, such as getting frozen yogurt after swim lessons or bagels after ballet. In CEAS, one of my favorite traditions is eating McDonald鈥檚 breakfast with my team before early morning recruiting events. Clearly, my traditions revolve around food!
What has been your favorite work or personal project so far?
The Admitted Women鈥檚 Mocktail Party for sure! It is something we dreamed up about 10 years ago. It has grown from a couple hundred people crammed into the DLC Collaboratory and my team covered in fruit trying to make mocktails, to a huge event with corporate sponsors and alums attending long after they鈥檝e graduated. I love hearing the impact this event has made on many of our students. If you want to attend this year, let me know!
What鈥檚 something most people don鈥檛 know about you?聽聽
My husband and I met as students in CEAS, and we have several matchmaking professors to thank all of these years later.
One thing you鈥檙e willing to spend way too much on...
Skincare and dining out at delicious restaurants. My current favorite restaurant is Uchi in Denver. I will gladly talk your ear off over either of these subjects!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Taylor Swift, TikTok, and sending my kids to the grandparents鈥� for an overnight.
What was the first concert you attended?
In 7th grade I went to The Barenaked Ladies concert with family friends. The band pulled all of the redheads onto the stage, and the man next to me decided to streak! My poor parents learned about this from the evening news. First and most memorable concert!