Dr. Amanda Young is a Lecturer in Workforce Learning and Development at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Watson College of Education. She brings a unique blend of higher education and industry experience to her teaching, with a professional background in learning and development, instructional design, workforce development and organizational performance improvement.
She has more than 15 years of experience in instructional design, workplace learning, and adult education across higher education, corporate, and military contexts. Her experience spans multiple roles across a range of industries, including retail, healthcare, military, manufacturing, information technology and higher education, where she has designed and supported learning solutions for diverse employee populations.
Dr. Young is passionate about building learner-centered, experiential environments that empower students and professionals alike. Her research focuses on self-directed learning and how technology shapes adult learning preferences. She has presented nationally and internationally, with her work recognized by awards including the AAACE Outstanding Distance Learning Adult Educator honor and the Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award 2025 from Texas State University.
Through her experience, as both a Navy and Army National Guard veteran, interacting with people from all over the world only increased her curiosity and passion for learning. She loves traveling to new places, exploring cultures and histories, and learning how people interact in the world—striving to visit at least one new international and one new domestic destination each year.
In her teaching, Dr. Young emphasizes a learner-centered, experiential approach that connects theory to real-world application. She is passionate about preparing students to design meaningful, effective learning experiences and to think critically about the role of technology in workforce development and organizational success.