Amanda Hensley

“Amanda Hensley is not afraid to dig in and ask great questions so she can be a part of seeking solutions to help,” said a nominator. “Simply put, her curiosity will improve lives.”

Amanda is a doctoral candidate in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health PhD program, focusing on Public Health and Implementation Science.

With passion for asking questions, investigating a problem, and finding reasonable solutions with the evidence available, Amanda’s curiosity serves her in and out of her studies. Her interest in everything and everyone lets her see the potential to serve others through every opportunity that comes her way.

As a nominator said, “Amanda continuously seeks intellectual growth and engages with the community to apply her knowledge in meaningful ways.”

Amanda has been the driving force behind Flip the Fair, an annual science fair for graduate students to present their research to a group of 5th graders who judge their presentations. The event started as a capstone project over three years ago.

Now, it is a collaborative community event organized in partnership with the Roanoke Public Library and Roanoke City public schools. Amanda’s nominators said that she is committed to the event’s long-term success because she wholeheartedly believes in its ability to change students’ lives.

“Flip the Fair helps graduate students build their science communication skills with the goal of engaging children and showing them that there is incredible science happening close to home — and that the children have the potential to become scientists as well,” said a nominator.

Amanda uses her position as a Virginia Tech graduate student to help community members of all ages engage with science in exciting and practical ways.

Through the Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, Amanda produced a series of educational videos to educate both community members and the research workforce.

A nominator said that Amanda’s curiosity benefits all aspects of her community engagement.

“She asks questions and more importantly, she listens,” said the nominator. “She hears what people have to say because she genuinely wants to help.”

Amanda started and led an online public health resource for Carilion Clinic’s Community Health and Outreach department, and she trained those who continue to produce the quarterly resource to support the health of those in the Roanoke Valley.

“Amanda’s ability to balance her academic pursuits with active community service reflects a deep commitment to lifelong learning,” said another nominator. “She embodies the spirit of curiosity by continually seeking opportunities for intellectual and personal development.”

In all that she does, she is guided by her love for her family. In the future, she hopes to continue her work with community health outreach programs, and to continue to guide aspiring researchers.

Amanda said, “The challenges of the communities we serve make it incumbent upon us to ask questions, learn, and grow to be better scientists.”

For an educational legacy that combines the question “What if?” with “How can I help?”, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for Commit to Unwavering CURIOSITY to Amanda Hensley.