Next Generation Scholars Scholarship recipient: Amanda Woodford

Amanda Woodford, a first-year student in the Master of Science in First-Year Studies (MSFYS) graduate program, is the recipient of the program’s first Next Generation Scholars Scholarship. Originally from Atlanta, Amanda earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University in 2012. Most recently, Woodford has worked as a teacher in pre-K through third grade and has dedicated much of her time to mentoring high school seniors through her program I.N.E.R.T.I.A. (formerly Campus Preparatory).  It is her goal to develop a college preparatory curriculum that addresses the unique needs of under-represented, rising first-generation college students seeking to obtain a degree in a STEM field.  Woodford’s hobbies include photography, traveling, cooking, and playing with her German shepherd, Samurai.

 

Amanda is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and has traveled extensively, visiting 9 countries and 15 states. Woodford’s research interests includes Gifted Adults in society, first-generation college student success, experiences of African-American college students that attend primarily white institutions (PWI's) versus experiences of those who attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's), and minority experiences in study abroad programs.

 

Woodford was also awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship.