Name: Amanda Nelson
Position at UWGB: Associate Dean/Associate Professor
Summary of what you do: I am an Associate Dean in the College of Science & Technology with a focus on recruitment, enrollment, and professional development. I am also an Associate Professor in Human Biology where I teach Anatomy & Physiology, Kinesiology, and Human Anatomy Lab. In addition, I have an appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the MCW-Green Bay medical school where I teach the lower extremity and head/neck components of the Clinical Human Anatomy Lab.
How long have you been employed: 10 years
Three words that describe you: family-oriented, sarcastic, introverted
Personal interests: running, gardening, reading, traveling
Are you messy or organized?
Organized
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?
Dean Karnazes, also known as Ultramarathon Man…he has created an impressive platform through the simple act of running.
If you could be anyone from any time period who would it be and why?
Grandma Jeppeson, at 90 years old she has witnessed more than I can comprehend…and at her age, she has the liberty to do and say what she wishes. Needless to say, Facebook and Snapchat have been an adventure.
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
- My great grandparents
- Nelson Mandela
- Pat Summit
If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
- My parent’s wedding
- First successful open heart surgery
- First successful powered flight
If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
BBQ chicken pizza (hold the bacon)
If you were an animal what would you be?
Horse. They can be strong as an individual or work well in a team; they also play a therapeutic role in healthcare.
If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save?
Grandma and Grandpa J’s cribbage board, Mom’s wedding jewelry, and Dad’s class ring.
Least favorite Food?
Cooked spinach
Motto or personal mantra?
Be grateful. Appreciate the little things.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?
- I grew up on a farm and worked at a farm implement from age 14-21. I can drive, operate, repair, and maintain farm machinery and equipment.
- I have an unhealthy obsession with true crime (literature, documentaries, etc.).
Tell us three things most people don’t know about you.
- I have a black Goldendoodle named Noodle.
- I lost my dad in a farming accident when I was a sophomore in college.
- I was the captain of the Newell-Fonda high school girls basketball team, which went to state three years in a row. Due to the fact that there were two Amanda’s on the team, my coach nicknamed me “AJ”. Without fail, I am reminded of this nickname every time I return to Newell.
What are three career lessons you’ve learned thus far?
- Protect your time.
- Make your personal and professional goals a priority; remind yourself of these goals and say “no” to an ask if it will prevent you from achieving these goals.
- Communication is the key to growth and success.
What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?
Interacting with my students. There is nothing quite like witnessing a student’s “ah ha” moment or knowing that you made an impact in one of their lives.
What book did you read last?
‘Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People’ by Banaji and Greenwald
What books are at your bedside?
“10% Human: How Your Body’s Microbes Hold the Key to Health and Happiness” by Collen
“Behind Closed Doors” by Paris
What did you want to be when growing up?
Pilot in the Air Force
What do you like to do on your days off?
Spend time with family. Although my sisters and I live in different states, our entire family is committed to seeing each other at least one time every month.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day doesn’t exist, which is one of the reasons that I love my job.
What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
Flight lessons and a twin engine airplane.
What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?
Trust the process. Change can be difficult, but rewarding.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
When someone criticizes the food that you are about to eat.
What is your favorite book?
‘Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen’ by McDougall
What is your favorite movie?
‘Erin Brockovich’…great leading actress and empowering storyline.
What is your favorite sport?
NCAA basketball or football…especially the Big Ten…Go Hawkeyes!
What phobias do you have?
Losing someone I love.
What was your favorite book, toy, or outfit as a child?
My bike, better known as Black Beauty…living five miles out in the country, this was my lifeline to my friends in town.
What would people never guess you do in your role?
My research focuses on the effects of exercise training on neuroplastic adaptations in cardiorespiratory and locomotor centers in the brain using an animal model. My students and I run rats on a treadmill.
Do you recall any embarrassing moment at work?
While waiting for the delivery of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats for my research, I received a call from the Dean of Students Office…the rats had been delivered to the wrong office…
What would you like to be famous for?
Curing cancer
What’s on your bucket list?
Become an Ironman
What’s the one thing, you can’t live without?
Family
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Rocky Mountain oysters
What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay?
An early morning run on the East River Trail or enjoying Zesty’s by the Fox Point boat launch.
Where is your favorite place to eat?
Za’s in Champaign, IL
Where is your home town?
Newell, IA…agricultural community in northwest Iowa, population 900.
Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?
Backpack Europe for an entire summer without an itinerary.