Amanda is a passionate advocate for child health and wellbeing and is the current director of the Balkhi Foundation. Amanda’s previous scientific publications focus on improving and disseminating effective interventions for the health of children with significant illnesses and their families. During her time at the University of Florida, Amanda led the first study to assess the impact that parents’ online health information seeking has on children with Type 1 Diabetes which provided key insights into the impact that online relationships have on real world caretaking. She also worked with the University of Florida Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Program to codify the Progressive Cascading Model of therapist training thus disseminating a highly effective and scalable model of training for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Amanda was born and raised in south Florida and this connection makes her especially proud to be able to bring mentorship and funding to the talented students here. Thanks to extraordinary teachers and mentors, Amanda was able to compete in national robotics competitions against university students and travel the state to compete in french and health science competitions despite being enrolled in an underfunded Title I school. With the support of educators, families, and students, it is Amanda’s goal to bring these opportunities within reach of the talented students throughout Florida that are striving for success. It is her hope to use the lessons learned in academia to partner with schools and students in similar positions to build a culture of mentorship and collaboration that facilitates student success for years to come.