Amanda Moore McBride, PhD, MSW
Professor and Dean Emerita of the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
Together, let’s transform higher education to be more just, engaged, and nimble through innovation, culture change, and change management.
Dr. Amanda Moore McBride is a seasoned leader in higher education with nearly 25 years of administrative experience at the intersection of academic leadership, faculty development, and community engagement. Currently serving as professor and dean emerita of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, McBride has a distinguished history in leadership roles—from most recently as dean at the University of Denver to associate dean at the Brown School of Social Work, the founding executive director of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, and research director at the Center for Social Development, all at Washington University in St. Louis. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in managing change, fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and centering wellness in both institutional and community contexts.
Dr. McBride is an internationally-recognized expert in civic and community engagement, with over 100 publications focused on national service, service learning, and promoting inclusion in education. She has consulted for organizations such as the United States Corporation for National and Community Service, Social Science Research Council, the Brookings Institution, and the United Nations Volunteer Program. She has organized more than 30 national and international conferences, including as vice president for her profession’s scientific society. Her work has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Huffington Post.
McBride is also dedicated to the well-being of leaders. Trained in social work, she is a Deepak Chopra-certified well-being coach and is pursuing certification as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, while deepening her yoga and meditation practice as a certified yoga teacher (E-RYT 200). McBride is committed to helping individuals integrate their leadership with their personal well-being to create sustainable, fulfilling lives.
As an Academic Impressions leadership coach, McBride specializes in supporting higher education leaders, including deans, vice presidents, vice provosts, directors, and chairs, to navigate complex systems and create desired outcomes. With extensive experience leading change and building diverse teams, McBride excels in coaching leaders through personal growth and leading transformation, whether they are managing teams, implementing new initiatives, or advancing institutional goals. She also enjoys supporting clients’ long-term career visioning, including strategically building their experience and expertise for the next role or coaching them as they apply for their next role.
McBride combines her achievements, training, and coaching specializations to meet her clients where they are and walk with them where they want go. Depending on clients’ goals for coaching, she can work with them to strategize approaches, craft scenarios, role play difficult conversations, or integrate leadership tools and educational resources as needed. She is known for her deep listening, strategic questioning, and consultative approach. She enjoys holding a mirror to her clients’ innate wisdom, drawing forth their capacity to meet their leadership challenges and to trust that capacity throughout their careers.