Amanda, originally from California, has called Colorado home since 2004. Surrounded by animals from a young age—cats, dogs, and even farm animals from her grandmother’s farm—Amanda’s early interactions with these animals ignited a lifelong passion for animal care that has blossomed into a career.
Amanda’s pivotal moment came in 2012 while she was in Korea. She adopted a dog and faced numerous challenges to bring it back to the United States, including obtaining a health certificate and navigating through extensive paperwork without speaking Korean. The exceptional care and attention the Korean vet provided to her dog despite the language barrier between her and the doctor, left a lasting impression on Amanda.
Upon returning to the United States, Amanda began working at a dog daycare as a dog handler. Her dedication and focus on animal care led to her promotion to dog handler supervisor. She then embarked on her undergraduate studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver while volunteering at a spay and neuter clinic. In 2015, she was offered a job at the clinic as an assistant and eventually became the internship coordinator, responsible for hospital tours, training, and assessments.
Amanda graduated from Metropolitan State University in 2020 and is currently pursuing her veterinary degree at Colorado State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, with an expected graduation in 2026.
Amanda has visited Las Vegas before but is looking forward to exploring attractions like Meow Wolf at Area 15 and the Sphere.
In her spare time, Amanda enjoys walking around the lake with her husband and daughter, visiting the library, spending time with her ten year old cat named Sparkle and an eight year old schnauzer named Trevor, and watching movies and TV shows, with “Shogun” being her current favorite.
Amanda faced significant pushback about pursuing a career in veterinary medicine while being a mother, but her daughter has been her biggest motivator. Amanda perseveres through challenges with the goal of showing her daughter that it’s important to follow one’s heart, regardless of others’ opinions
