Steve Jackson Award: Amani Edwards

Rockefeller College PhD candidate Amani Edwards was selected as the recipient of the Steve Jackson Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award. The award recognizes outstanding graduate students for their skill, dedication, and compassion in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and fellow graduate students. Learn more about Amani’s accomplishments and what’s next.

Name: Amani Edwards
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Program: PhD Public Administration and Policy
Awards: Steve Jackson Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award, Dean Frank Thompson Award, President’s Award for Leadership and Governance, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Equity and Inclusion Fellowship, Initiatives For Women Honoring our Mothers Award, Initiatives For Women Shirley Jones Award

What activities have you been involved in during your time at Rockefeller College? 

Conversations for Change Committee, President of the Graduate Student Association, University Senate, Judicial Board of the Graduate Student Association, University Life Council, Programming Chair of the Graduate Student Association, President’s Council on Diversity, and Equity and Inclusion Chair of the Graduate Student Association.

What are some highlight experiences of your Rockefeller career? 

My most memorable experience is going to the PhD lounge. The lounge was a place where we could all come together and relax and work. I learned so much from my colleagues during those times and remember those conversations, as well as late nights and weekends completing work for courses. Another experience was attending the Public Management Research Conference in 2016. I was able to meet some of the top scholars in the field of public administration and policy and talk to them about my research interests. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why? 

I am most proud of completing a full draft of my dissertation. It took two years of researching, analyzing, and writing to complete. I have not defended my dissertation yet, but I look forward to doing so.

What are your future plans? 

I am currently the Director of Diversity and Human Resources at the Connecticut Bar Association. I plan on continuing this work for the near future and also continuing diversity and inclusion work research.