Amanda Cook

Amanda Cook has over 25 years of nonprofit experience. She has raised over $10 million in her career for a variety of causes including arts programming, conservation, literacy, and homeless services. She also has over 5 years of experience in arts and creative writing programming and her Respect Program has been featured on Live at Nine on Channel 3 in Memphis, in the Commercial Appeal and Memphis Parent Magazine.

 

She has a BA in English Literature from Millsaps College and loves teaching literary and creative writing lessons. She also has an MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, which helped set her on a path for fundraising and nonprofit management success.

 

She credits acting in plays as a child and young adult with her academic success. “Being in a play taught me public speaking and teamwork. Acting was also a powerful creative outlet that increased my confidence in myself. Confidence I was then able to use to study hard and succeed in school.”

 

In her spare time, Amanda writes poetry, reads a variety of fiction and nonfiction books, knits, and hikes with her husband Ben and their two rescue dogs, Lucky and Frida.