Amanda Silvester, MPA and CRA, joined the Dean’s Office on June 2, 2025 as Director, Pre-Award Research Administration, on Emily Puckart’s team. She will primarily work remotely in this position. Amanda began her Research Administration career at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Psychology in 2016. During her time there, Amanda worked directly with faculty for several years managing multimillion-dollar research portfolios throughout the entirety of the grant lifecycle. Amanda held similar roles both with the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia and the Rutgers Addiction Research Center in the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. 

Before becoming joining Arts & Sciences, Amanda managed a diverse and complex proposal portfolio in the University of Virginia's Office of Sponsored Programs.  Amanda is proudly committed to building supportive environments where colleagues feel understood and able to thrive in their research endeavors.

Amanda earned a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was elected President of the Public Administration Student Association, joined the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society, and received the 2021 Student Leadership Award. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from West Virginia University and attained a Certified Research Administrator credential from the Research Administration Certification Council. 

Amanda lives in Richmond, Virginia with her spouse and two corgis. In her free time, you'll find her riding her bike on the Virginia Capital Trail, trying new restaurants, seeing live music, or being the goofy aunt to her beloved nieces and nephews.