Amanda Smoot

Amanda Smoot, PhD, currently serves as the Department Administrator and Chief Operations Officer at the University of Minnesota's College of Design, a position held since October 2006. In this role, Amanda oversees various strategic operations, including accreditation, human resources, budget management, and curriculum oversight, managing a $2 million budget to align with departmental and university missions. Previously, Amanda was a Research and Outreach Administrator, facilitating grant coordination and technical leadership for clinical projects. Early career roles include Program Director at the Minnesota Homeownership Center, where Amanda developed a statewide homeownership education program, and Community Development Manager at the Carver County Community Development Agency, focusing on housing counseling and financing programs. Amanda holds a PhD in Housing Studies with an emphasis in Gerontology, a Master's degree in Housing and Human Environments, and a Bachelor's degree in Family and Community Services from the University of Minnesota.