I received my bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Clemson University in 2006 and my PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida in 2011. Plant Pathology is a specialized discipline in the field of microbiology which is a combination of plant sciences (horticulture, genetics, etc) with microbes which parasitize plants. My tutoring experiences includes more than 5 years of working with interns, and non traditional students in laboratory and classroom settings. Living organisms, their surrounding environment, and genetic make-up have always fascinated me since I was a child. It is a passion which was developed early and one which I adore. My education and teaching style has been honed through the land grant extension service, whose core mission is to teach people to help themselves. Therefore I tailor my teaching style to each individual or group by creating hands-on applications of the teaching topics and by challenging students to think by asking informed and engaging questions. Additionally, I most importantly believe that a fun engaging environment creates passion and desire to learn, inquire, and achieve great things. Outside of the classroom I really enjoy the outdoors from hiking to gardening to practicing yoga. I also love to cook and create down home "soul food" with a twist. Since I do come from two schools with large football cultures, fall is my favorite time of year. There is something about the crisp air, the color change in the trees, and the collegiate excitement around this sport that makes me feel extremely nostalgic and excited. Also I really love harvest festivals, the fairs, and the art shows. There is something about fall that brings out the creativity in people.

Amanda enjoys reading, gardening, and hiking. She is also very passionate about collage football and loves cook southern soul food with a southwestern twist