Amanda Nash

I earned by undergraduate degree in English from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA followed by some graduate courses in English at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. My MLIS degree is from the University of South Carolina.

I am currently the head librarian at the Hosch Library on the Gainesville Campus. I’m also the Gainesville Instructional Coordinator.

Several years ago, I worked in the reference department at UGA and discovered that this job was a great fit because I’m very curious and love to learn new things. This experience motivated me to return to school and earn the MLIS degree. So what started as a job became my career. Since, I’m always asking questions, I love to help people find answers for themselves. This is an essential part of being a librarian.

I am so inspired by our students when I see their ideas ‘click’. Literally their body language changes! I love the interaction with students when they are initially stumped or confused about a concept but they are driven to learn and I’m able to facilitate that experience by steering them in the right direction to answer their own questions. My family has three generations of career teachers so I guess teaching is in my DNA.

I’ve had several opportunities to teach RSCH 1501 and 1502 at UNG both face to face and online. I personally feel that the face to face format helps me build relationships with the students and assist them in creating communities of learners. It is always special to me when I hear back from students whom I’ve taught in previous semesters.

I sincerely hope that my intellectual curiosity is catching. I try to impart to all students that learning is not just about completing a task but it is a way of engaging the world throughout their lives. I model my philosophy that everything we do is an opportunity to learn. I’m thrilled when I read student evaluations with comments such as “I thought that this class would be boring but it was fun and I learned all sorts of things.” I work hard at leading the students to make connections in RSCH 1501 and 1502 to their other classes and lives. They need to discover that they are partners in this process called learning.