Amanda was born and raised in Mentor, Ohio where she grew up with her brother and parents.
While growing up Amanda would catch turtles and frogs from nearby creeks, so her passion for
animals developed at a young age. In 2021, she graduated from the Ohio State University and
graduated with her B.A. in Zoology. During college and following her graduation, she interned
and received a permanent position at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Outside of work, she volunteered
at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
In 2023, Amanda made the courageous decision to “spread her wings” by accepting a job at NEI
and moving to Florida! She started as a seasonal trainer at Winged Encounters. Receiving a full
time position only solidified that this was where she wanted to spend more time to grow in this
career. She is overjoyed to continue learning in this role with both her team and the amazing
birds.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending time with friends and family (including her 2 cats),
reading, and visiting the parks.