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Dr. Amanda Pacheco is a lecturer in Leadership and Integrative General Studies at the University of Central Florida with over 25 years of experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and corporate workforce development. She offers a blend of academic and professional experience, including roles as an instructor, administrator, recruiter, consultant, and founder of a nationally recognized nonprofit.
At UCF, Dr. Pacheco has held leadership roles across campus, including within the Office of Experiential Learning and the General Education Program. In 2025, she received the GEP Leadership Award for creativity, initiative, and exceptional support of both students and faculty.
Her teaching philosophy centers on empowering both traditional and nontraditional students through accessible, flexible, and reflective learning experiences that promote student agency and real-world application. She has a particular interest in how neurodivergence shapes the college experience for both students and instructors, and applies Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for equitable, human-centered instruction.
As a first-generation college student, she knows firsthand what it’s like to navigate higher education without a roadmap. That experience shapes her deep commitment to accessibility, encouragement, and real-world relevance in the classroom. She’s passionate about helping students build confidence, find their voice, and grow their gifts, regardless of where they started.
Dr. Pacheco speaks nationally on the integration of generative AI in education and on fostering student agency through intentional, inclusive course design.
She loves musical theater, traveling, Fresh Kitchen salads, learning new things, people who are unabashedly themselves, spending time with friends and family, and a good dad joke. She serves on the board of a local self-directed enrichment center for homeschooled students and believes we learn best when given the ability to choose our path.
Phone: 407.823.0255
Phone: 407.823.0255
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