Amanda Parsons, MPP, PMP

Chief of Staff, Higher Education Practice
  (202) 296-2741

Amanda Parsons has been at McAllister & Quinn for over a decade and has built an impressive background working across government, academic, and private sectors. In her role as a Managing Director, Amanda has worked collaboratively with clients to secure tens of millions of dollars in external funding for a wide range of projects including student scholarships, faculty-led research, programmatic and student supports, recruitment and retention activities, and curriculum development. Amanda works strategically with clients to identify, pursue, and secure external funding that aligns with institutional priorities, managing all aspects of the application process from concept to final submission. Her particular areas of focus include the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Education (ED), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

In addition to her experience at McAllister & Quinn, Amanda has also served on the Global Development Policy and Advocacy team at Save the Children International. At Save the Children, Amanda’s efforts contributed to increased support for higher funding levels for global health accounts at US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the introduction of legislation to improve the health of mothers and infants in the developing world. Earlier in her career, she worked as a congressional aide on the staff of Congressman John McHugh (R-NY) and as committee staff for the House Science Committee. In those positions, she handled numerous legislative matters that involved higher education and science research policy. During her time on Capitol Hill, Amanda worked closely with agencies such as the NSF, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Amanda is a native of upstate New York, and earned a master’s in public policy at Georgetown University and her bachelor’s in politics from Ithaca College. She attained her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification in 2022. Amanda actively teaches as an adjunct professor for both 2-year and 4-year institutions in courses covering politics, influencing the government, and American history.

Highlights

  • Associate Director of Global Development Policy and Advocacy, Save the Children US
  • Legislative Assistant, Congressman John McHugh (R-NY)
  • Staff Assistant, House of Representative’s Committee on Science

Expertise

  • Appropriations
  • Federal Grants
  • Higher Education
  • Global Health, International Development
  • Nonprofits

Education

  • PMP, Project Management Professional Certification
  • M.P.P., Georgetown University
  • B.A., Ithaca College