Profile

Dr. Amanda Pacheco is a lecturer in Leadership and Integrative General Studies with over 25 years of experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and corporate workforce development. She offers a blend of academic and professional experience, including roles as a recruiter, career consultant, and founder of a nationally recognized nonprofit.

At UCF, Dr. Pacheco has held leadership roles across campus, including within the Office of Experiential Learning and the General Education Program. In 2025, she received the GEP Leadership Award for creativity, initiative, and exceptional support of both students and faculty.

Her teaching philosophy centers on empowering both traditional and nontraditional students through accessible, flexible, and reflective learning experiences that promote student agency and real-world application. She has a particular interest in how neurodivergence shapes the college experience for both students and instructors, and applies Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for equitable, human-centered instruction.

She speaks nationally on the integration of generative AI in education and on fostering student agency through intentional, inclusive course design. In her spare time, she enjoys musical theater, traveling, Fresh Kitchen salads, learning new things, people who are unabashedly themselves, spending time with friends and family, and a good dad joke. She serves on the board of a local self-directed school and believes we learn best when given the ability to choose our path.

• Leadership Education
• Career & Workforce Development
• Alternative Education Models

Ed.D. in Education Leadership, 2007
Concentration: Higher Education
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

M.Ed. in Counselor Education, 1999
Specialization: Student Affairs in Higher Education
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

B.A. in Psychology, 1997
Minor: Educational Studies
University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Dr. Pacheco’s research explores inclusive, future-focused approaches to teaching and learning with an emphasis on Universal Design for Learning principles, generative AI, and leadership development. Her work focuses on enhancing student agency, reflective practice, and career readiness through experiential learning, technology integration, and human-centered course design.

• Member, Florida AI Learning Consortium, 2024-Present
• Member, UCF Career Services and Experiential Learning Advisory Board, 2023-Present
• Founding Board Member, Ad Astra Agile Learning Center, 2022-Present
• Member, CUGS Scholarship Committee 2024-2025
• Proposal Reviewer, Association for Leadership Educators Conference, 2025
• Member, GEP Instructional Specialist search committee, 2025
• Proposal Reviewer, TOPKit Workshop, 2025
• Proposal Reviewer, Teaching and Learning with AI Conference, 2024, 2025
• Chair, AI Credential Development Task Force, 2024
• Chair, Awards Committee, UCF General Education Program, 2024-2025
• Member, Professional Development Committee, UCF General Education Program, 2024-2025
• Submission Reviewer, Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning (TRAIIL), 2024
• Chair, Professional Development Task Force, UCF General Education Program, 2023-2024
• Teach-In (American Education Week), OCPS Academic Center for Excellence, 2023
• NACE Competency Faculty Champion, Fall 2020

• General Education Program Leadership Award, University of Central Florida, 2025
• Group Legacy Affordable Instructional Materials (AIM) Impact Award (Honorable Mention), University of Central Florida, 2025
• Digital Curriculum Innovation Initiative Award (with Danielle Eadens & Karen Haslett), University of Central Florida, 2023
• Football Faculty Member of the Game, University of Central Florida, 2023
• Men’s Soccer Faculty Member of the Game, University of Central Florida, 2018
• Institute of Hospitality Education Research Award, University of Central Florida, 2010
• Central Floridian of the Week, News Channel 13, 2010
• Someone You Should Know, Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine, 2010
• Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year, Stetson University, 2000

LDR 4115: Leadership Theories and Concepts, Fa, Sp, Su
This course blends classic and contemporary leadership models with case studies, interactive discussions, and a leader interview project to help students connect theory to practice and develop their own authentic leadership approach.

LDR 4130: Leadership Skills for the 21st Century, Fa, Sp, Su
This course uses a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy–inspired theme to explore practical, future-focused leadership skills through interactive modules, real-world reflection journals, a collaborative book club, and creative problem-solving for today’s complex, interconnected world.

LDR 3115: Contemporary Issues in Leadership, Fa, Sp, Su
This course invites students to explore real-world leadership challenges by using the community as a living lab through 15 hours of community service, guided by personal insights from the StrengthsFinder assessment and enriched by critical reflection on the pressing issues leaders face today.

IDS 4939: Senior Seminar, Fa, Sp, Su
Students design a personalized research project that connects their past experiences, current interests, and future goals while building expertise in an area of their choosing and developing skills in negotiation, problem-solving, and professional communication.