Amanda Andersen in a doctoral student in the Department of Education. She has a Master's in Political Science from Institut d'Etudes politiques de Paris, an interdisciplinary master's in audiovisual arts from LUCA School of Arts (KU Leuven), and a BA in International Relations from Brown University.
GGSE: You have worked and studied in Paris and Brazil--what made you decide to come to UCSB?
Andersen: I chose to come to UCSB because I lived in Ojai in 2020, and I enjoyed the people I met, the climate, and the beautiful scenery. Also, while applying to UCSB, I reached out to graduate students from GGSE and was impressed by how responsive and friendly they were. The collaborative nature of the program was confirmed when I came to Admit Day in February 2020, so it felt like a great fit for me. I also have family in the area, which is very supportive.
GGSE: What are your research interests and why?
Andersen: My research interests include informal and experiential learning, non-hierarchical mentorship programs, and perceptions of respect and belonging in academic spaces. I taught in Rio de Janeiro, my hometown and a deeply stratified city, for several years before applying to graduate programs in Education, and I am curious about the changes that need to be made for there to be greater diversity and representation in all spheres of life.
GGSE: You have much experience in the arts--are you bringing any of that to bear on your doctoral studies?
Andersen: I am still figuring out how to do that and welcome any suggestions! I am interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), as I worked with some amazing artists in Brussels, for example, who had backgrounds in biology and engineering and were combining those interests with creative ventures in the audiovisual arts. I am currently on the AISL (Advancing Informal Stem Learning) research team, an NSF project in collaboration with the MOXI (The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation). We are researching practice-based facilitation methods and training, which, like good art, centers on the process and exploration. I am also interested in multimodal writing and more creative ways of conveying information in academia. Ultimately, I feel that creativity is a mindset, and I am still learning how I can apply it during my graduate studies. Part of that is understanding the rules of the academic game, which has been even more challenging given the current context.
GGSE: If you have any free time, what do you like doing with it?
Andersen: In my free time, I love strolling around Santa Barbara and going for walks on the beach, connecting with friends and family, writing for pleasure, and making simple and colorful plant-based meals. I also enjoy contemplating nature, listening to birds, and gazing out at the mountains and the ocean.