Amanda Knapp, PhD, is a public affairs scholar, educator, and community leader based in Miami Beach. She earned her doctorate in Public Affairs from Florida International University, where her dissertation examined Florida’s human trafficking prosecutorial process. At FIU, Dr. Knapp served as the Coordinator for the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership, where she developed and taught civics courses rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, built community partnerships, led student engagement initiatives, and secured grant funding to support civic programming. She has also taught and mentored students as an adjunct professor, fostering the next generation of changemakers.

Deeply committed to civic and community engagement, Dr. Knapp serves as Chair of the Miami Beach Human Rights Committee, where she champions policies and initiatives that protect human rights and public safety. She is also the President of a local political organization, leading local organizing and civic participation efforts.