Her Story
About Amanda
Amanda John serves as Assistant Director of Academic Advising at the School of Professional Studies at Northwestern University, one of the university's 12 schools. In this role for the past four years, she manages a team of three advisors and supports graduate students, post-baccalaureate credential seekers, and a smaller population of professional undergraduate students through flexible part-time and remote program options designed for those balancing families and full-time careers. She holds a bachelor's degree in organizational communication from Purdue University earned in 2012 and a master's degree in communication studies and rhetoric. Amanda began working in higher education in 2012 and transitioned into professional roles in the field starting in 2015 after initially considering marketing, advertising, or PR paths. Her interest in higher education grew from teaching experiences during her graduate assistantship, where she taught public speaking and interpersonal communication, leading her to prefer working with adult learners. She also teaches digital media part-time. Amanda attributes her career success to perseverance, noting it took seven years from starting in 2010 to reach a title she felt she deserved, and she values the strong work-life balance and supportive environment at Northwestern, which allows her to maintain both full-time and part-time teaching commitments without feeling overwhelmed.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance. It took me 7 years to get to a title that I felt like I deserved. I started in 2010 and considered going into the field I went to school for but chose higher ed for its steadiness compared to the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of marketing, advertising, or PR.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to not stay somewhere that you don't feel satisfied or fulfilled. There's really no point in working somewhere for 30 years and being miserable every day when you wake up and go to work. If you're unfulfilled in the workplace, there's still time to do something else, even if you have years left until retirement.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in higher ed right now is advancement. Higher ed is very much like a corporate system where it has a lot to do with who you know and what you're known for. In order to move up, there's always someone with seniority, and if you're coming in as a new person, especially in leadership, it can be very challenging. If I wanted to move into associate director, director, or assistant dean, I would likely have to look elsewhere because there are so many qualified candidates already in the circle.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
One thing I value most is the ability to have a good work-life balance, which I have because of the organization I work for. I thoroughly enjoy working at Northwestern and don't have plans to leave because I like the culture and the environment there. Even though I work full-time and teach part-time, it doesn't feel overwhelming thanks to the supportive environment.
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