Amanda Cole

Amanda Cole has been serving on the Extension Leadership Team since 2023, seeking out collaborative opportunities that exist related to the Illinois Extension Strategic Plan and future Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center. In her role, she continues to look for opportunities to strategically address issues and serve the public, fulfilling the mission of the land-grant university. The goal is to empower the public with unbiased research through Extension programs and collaborations. 

Prior to transitioning into that role, she served as a County Director, serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery Counties in central Illinois; and as a former Community and Economic Development Educator. She started her career with Illinois Extension in 2005. 

As assistant director, Cole provides leadership to the strategic planning and implementation unit of Illinois Extension. This includes helping to implement the strategic priorities set forth in the strategic plan, and working to address pressing issues within Illinois related to community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence. She also oversees the Extension Academy, which provides a series of practical workshops regarding planning, assessing, evaluation, and reporting your Extension plans of work, and introduces our affiliated faculty to Extension opportunities and expectations. 

Cole is a native of Central Illinois and earned both her bachelor of science and master of business administration from Eastern Illinois University. Her primary focus of study was in business–finance.

Amanda is a member of the Illinois Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (ILACDEP), and a past chair. She is a Governor Appointee serving on the Illinois Department of Agriculture, State Fair Advisory Board. 

Recent Awards

• University of Illinois Extension: Excellence In Diversity Award, Excellence in Diversity, Team, Race Matters Series, 2020
• National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences: Excellence in Teamwork Award: “Eat Local Initiative: A Challenge to Increase Awareness of Local Food in Central Illinois” - 3rd Place Central Region Winner, 2020