Amanda Walker

Dr. Amanda Walker (she/her/hers) joined Purchase College in July 2022 as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Purchase College Foundation and Charitable Entities. Amanda came to Purchase with two decades of experience leading fundraising, discrete and comprehensive campaigns, and engagement in higher education and non-profit arts organizations.

Previously, as Vice President for Advancement at The Evergreen State College and Executive Director of Evergreen’s Foundation, Amanda led efforts to raise private funds, seek grants, engage alumni, and steward support. After leading development for a decade at Evergreen, Foundation net assets had tripled, and endowment value had quadrupled. An enthusiastic advocate for Evergreen’s innovative, inclusive mission and commitment to students, she built the institution’s capacity for inspiring philanthropic support. Amanda led the launch and successful initial phase of Evergreen’s first, historic comprehensive campaign, raising $25m in two years. Prior to joining Evergreen, Amanda led fundraising at arts organizations in the North of England including Sage Gateshead, a landmark center for music learning and performance, and the Georgian Theatre Royal.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre with honors from Whitman College, a Master of Arts with distinction in Medieval Studies from the University of York, and a PhD in Education from University College London. She attended the Harvard University Graduate School of Education summer Institute for Educational Management. Amanda has contributed to national conversations about effective higher education leadership and governance through the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). She is also a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).