We are thrilled to announce that Amanda Hale is joining PeerForward as our Managing Director of Development.
She recently retired from Deloitte after 22+ years, where she held leadership roles focused on strategy, operations, and business development. She brings a wealth of experience in leading high-performing teams, driving transformative change, and cultivating strategic partnerships – all of which will greatly benefit PeerForward as we continue expanding our impact.
Most importantly, Amanda brings a passion for guiding and mentoring young people and a longstanding commitment to our mission of transforming the lives of students in low-income communities by connecting them to higher education and careers. When asked to share some words on her career journey and what led her to take on this role at PeerForward, this is what she shared:
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to leverage my skills, insights, and network in support of PeerForward’s focus on closing the education access gap. It is vitally important to the future of our country that all young people have a path to postsecondary success and meaningful careers. To me, education is everything. It opens your mind to new ideas and opens doors to possibilities. I want to open those doors for the next generation – especially those with immense potential but limited resources – so they can achieve their dreams.
I’ve had a rewarding career in the corporate world and have enjoyed solving large, complex challenges for clients around the world. My favorite part, however, was being able to mentor and coach team members to help them realize their fullest potential. And now I’m delighted to steer my career into a role focused on impacting young peoples’ lives and driving positive change at scale.
PeerForward is one of the most exceptional nonprofits I’ve encountered. I’ve seen firsthand – both as a writing coach volunteer at summer workshops over the last 13 years and as National Board member the last three – how it transforms students’ perspectives using a proven model. It takes them on a journey of self-discovery, guides them in developing a plan for their future, and then helps them formulate strategies to guide their peers to do the same. There’s a multiplier effect in that the students go from self to service. PeerForward is all about creating the next generation of community change makers, and I could not be more excited about joining the leadership team!”
Amanda has acted as a mentor to not only Peer Leaders, but alum of the program as well. One such alum is Phillips Percy. The two of them connected at a PeerForward Workshop back in 2017, and their connection grew from there. When asked how he felt to see Amanda transition to a full-time employee of PeerForward, Phillips said “Launching into Amanda 2.0: where brilliance meets resilience, and every step forward is fueled by wisdom and love. Here’s to your next chapter, painted with the colors of wit, intelligence, and an unwavering spirit. Congratulations, Amanda!”
PeerForward’s CEO, Gary Z. Linnen, also expressed his joy with having Amanda joining our organization: “I am excited to welcome Amanda Hale as our new Managing Director of Development at PeerForward. Amanda’s years of corporate leadership at Deloitte, coupled with her extensive knowledge working within the PeerForward ecosystem as both a writing coach and National Board Member, make her a perfect fit for our mission. Her expertise will be pivotal in driving our organization forward, and expanding our impact in low-income communities.”
Once again, we at PeerForward would like to welcome Amanda. We know that she will be a valuable asset to the organization in her new role as Managing Director of Development as we continue our work confronting the urgent crisis of education inequity that schools in under-resourced communities face. We are looking forward to a bright future with her on our team!
