Amanda Colton grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After being introduced to the field of genetic counseling in her high school biology class, she chose to attend the University of Georgia and major in Genetics. Amanda also studied at the University of Oxford in England for a semester, taking classes in Biochemistry and Genetics under their unique tutorial format.
During her time as an undergraduate, Amanda was a peer learning assistant for chemistry and biology classes, an executive board member for her sorority, and a member of the club field hockey team. She also had various roles in the student-run philanthropic organization, UGA Miracle, including coordinating games and art projects for patients and their families at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In the local community, Amanda was a mentor at an elementary school, a crisis text line counselor, and an intern at Project Safe (a nonprofit organization working to end domestic violence). In addition, Amanda spent three years as an undergraduate researcher where she conducted experiments in an epigenetic plant lab using DNA affinity purification sequencing to find cis-regulatory elements.
After graduating in May 2021, Amanda moved back up north to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a genetic counseling assistant and scribe in the Clinical Genetics department. During summers and on weekends, Amanda's favorite place to spend her time was Variety Club Camp, an organization that provides programs for children and young adults with disabilities. She loved getting to know all the kids as she coordinated the sports and dance activities for the camp.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending time outdoors, going to concerts, finding the best ice cream in Atlanta, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. Amanda is so excited to be a part of the Emory Genetic Counseling Training Program’s Class of 2024!