Our People

Amanda Kolling
she/her/hers
Senior Program Director
So I say to you: Don’t give up. Don’t give up on the things that have great meaning to you. Don’t get lost in a sea of despair. Stand up for what you believe in. - John Lewis
Huntington, West Virginia

EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

The joy of communications is in constantly learning from and sharing the expertise of those doing the work. For more than two decades, Amanda has listened to and shared the work of experts—from scientists studying population dynamics and malaria control to disability rights activists advocating for accessibility. She has had the good fortune to work on a number of projects that have been personally and professionally fulfilling. Most recently, she led community engagement efforts at the American Foundation for the Blind, connecting corporations, nonprofit partners, donors, consumers, and other stakeholders through programs and events in the disability equity space. Amanda is a seasoned writer, editor, strategist, event planner, and fundraiser.

Highlights & Background

Early in her career, Amanda was a technical editor and copy editor for a number of scholarly journals before moving on to writing. Over the years, she has spilled ink on a wide range of niche topics, including international trade regulations and clean energy. Prior to joining the American Foundation for the Blind, she served as an executive communications specialist at Rutgers University, where she was responsible for strategic and leadership communications for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Russian with a minor in International Studies from Penn State University, and a master’s degree in Communication and Information Studies from Rutgers University. In her spare time, she enjoys the company of family and friends, a good book, travel, and stress baking.