Amanda LaSalle serves as a Senior College Persistence Advisor (CPA) within the SEO Scholars program at Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO). The SEO Scholars program is an eight year program that supports motivated high school students in New York City to and through college by providing an additional 720 hours of instruction in English and Math, SAT prep, enrichment programs and extensive support in the college application process. Upon entering college, Scholars work individually with their CPA to receive holistic support in the areas of academic, career, and personal advising.

Amanda is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker and a proud triple City University of New York (CUNY) graduate with an Associate of Arts from CUNY Queensborough Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from CUNY Queens College and a Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at CUNY Hunter College.

In her role as a Senior College Persistence Advisor, Amanda applies individualized and holistic advising support to a cohort of 65+ College Scholars per academic year. During her tenure at SEO, Amanda has contributed to the curriculum, operations, and facilitation of the College Scholars College and Career Readiness programming for over 500 scholars in their summer before college as well as during their summer and winter breaks in college. In addition to yearly programming, Amanda has piloted several student connection initiatives that have informed the College Scholars program’s deep commitment to peer to peer engagement. Amanda is deeply passionate about utilizing unique outreach and engagement strategies to support college retention and success, especially in the summer before beginning college.

In addition to student facing work, Amanda is equally as passionate in supporting her Colleagues within the College Scholars program, whether that is through facilitating peer coaching groups or leading Culture Committee initiatives that acknowledge and celebrate her colleagues for their contribution to a 90% graduation rate within College Scholars.