Amanda Atkinson
Director, Residential Communities
Office of Student Engagement (OSE)
Contact
Amanda came to Swarthmore in the summer of 2022. Before Swarthmore she was a few SEPTA stations down the road at the University of Pennsylvania, where she spent eight years as a House Dean and an additional year and a half with the University’s COVID Resource Center. While at Penn, Amanda worked with resident advisors and graduate associates to create a welcoming community for first year students, served as an academic advisor, and hosted countless knitting circles and Sunday Night Sundae study breaks. She has extensive experience in residence life working in various positions at Simmons College in Boston, Columbia University in New York City, and Occidental College in Los Angeles. She even spent time as a resident director on Semester at Sea circumnavigating the globe. Additionally, she spent a number of years as an academic advisor both at Penn and the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California.
Amanda has a Doctor of Education from Drexel University in Educational Leadership and Management and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Harvard University. She began her academic career at Sweet Briar College in Virginia earning a Bachelors' degree in Literature and Theatre. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her partner and their four kids, knitting, watching tv, running, and listening to audiobooks.
