Research Director and Grants Administrator
Amanda Erekson works closely with McSilver Faculty Director Dr. Fred Ssewamla to administer his portfolio of externally funded research projects. The portfolio includes research studies that aim to reduce poverty and improve public health outcomes for children and families primarily in Uganda and training grants that help to educate the next generation of researchers. In this role, she coordinates the pre-award preparation and submission process and manages post-award activities including monitoring spending and preparing financial reports. Her work ensures that research operations run smoothly throughout the grant lifecycle.
With more than a decade of experience in sponsored research administration, Erekson brings a strong track record of grants management and operational excellence. Prior to joining NYU, she was Associate Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects at Columbia School of Social Work, where she helped faculty members secure and manage complex research funding. As a consultant, she has supported universities across the country, offering expertise in grants administration and compliance. Known for her collaborative approach and attention to detail, Erekson plays a vital role in advancing McSilver’s mission by ensuring that Dr. Ssewamala’s research team has the infrastructure it needs to pursue innovative solutions to poverty and inequality.
Erekson is deeply committed to advocacy and leadership in the mixed race community. She worked her way up from intern, to operations manager, and eventually to Board President for MAVIN, a nonprofit organization that was focused on empowering mixed heritage individuals and families. She is a member of the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association and regularly participates in the CMRS Conference and she has recently joined the planning committee for Free to Be Fest, which creates space for mixed race and multiracial people and families to feel seen, celebrated, and connected.
Erekson holds a Master of Science in Information and Knowledge Strategy from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Colgate University.