Amanda Ford teaches courses for the International Peacebuilding Program at BYU–Hawaii. Her classes focus on building and improving personal and family relationships and working through personal conflict to find deeper inner peace. Her first teaching experience was in the Social Work Program at BYU–Hawaii. She taught classes on social problems and child welfare. Her passion is teaching and helping students improve relationships and find peace in who they want to be. She also has a strong belief in empowering women and helping them feel confident and able to use their voice.
Amanda also spends time supporting the student field directors, working specifically with media and communications for the McKay Center. Amanda hopes she can do her part in fulfilling David O. McKay's prophecy and our "influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally."
Amanda has a bachelor's degree in Social Work from BYU in Provo and a master's degree from the University of Utah in Social Work, with an emphasis on Mental Health and Counseling. While studying at BYU, she worked closely with families in the community to help build better parent-child relationships. She also has experience working with individuals with disabilities.
In her free time, Amanda loves to explore the island, either in the ocean or hiking in the mountains. She loves doing Yoga and meditation. She is currently learning more about meditation and mindfulness so she can incorporate these skills into her classes. She has four beautiful and amazing children who keep her life busy and full of excitement and joy. She is continually striving to find a balance between being a mom, a wife and fulfilling her vocation as she teaches and serves in the community.