Amanda Bogden: Your New Guide to Career Success at the Graduate Center
The path to success is rarely linear, and Amanda Bogden, the new Associate Director of Graduate Career Services at the University of Arizona, knows this firsthand. Her own career journey has been full of twists, turns, and valuable lessons along the way.
Amanda Bogden, Associate Director of Graduate Career Services
Amanda as a greenhouse manager in California.
After earning her degree in Agricultural and Environmental Education from University of California (UC), Davis, Amanda quickly dove into the agricultural industry and discovered her passion for greenhouse management. “I worked at the Core Greenhouse Complex during my undergraduate years [at UC Davis] and knew this was an area I wanted to build my career in,” she explains. This led to a role as a Greenhouse Specialist in Sacramento with Bayer Crop Sciences, where she supported research and development for pesticides and herbicides.
Amanda's career took a new direction when she transitioned to Syngenta as a Greenhouse Manager, where she played a key role in their greenhouse breeding programs for crops like lettuce, broccoli, spinach, and peppers. Afterward, she embraced another challenge at Sakata Seeds America, moving from controlled environment systems to fieldwork as an agronomist. "My summers were my peak times, working 12-hour days with sunflowers and broccoli," she recalls. As a young professional leading teams, Amanda admits to having struggled with the job search and application process. She did not feel prepared or fully equipped, largely due to a lack of career readiness resources during her undergraduate years.
Amanda's truck in a California field.
However, after years of long hours and confronting social justice issues within the industry, Amanda knew she needed a change. “I was getting burned out and felt like it was time to transition,” she says. During this time, while pursuing her master’s degree in Agricultural Education online at the University of Arizona, a pivotal conversation with her advisor set her on a new path. “I was informed I could study the topics I was passionate about,and influence the next generation of agricultural leaders.”
This encouragement led Amanda to take a major leap — leaving her stable job in California to pursue a PhD in Higher Education at the University of Arizona. “It was a scary move, but I am motivated by creating positive change and making a difference,” she reflects.
During her doctoral studies, Amanda’s passion for helping students led her to apply for and become a Career Development Coordinator at the College of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences Career Center. In this role, she supported cross-campus partnerships, helping undergraduate students workshop their resumes, cover letters, and interview skills, while also expanding internship opportunities.
Amanda receiving the USDA HSI Kika De La Garza Fellowship award.
She eventually transitioned to Internship Program Manager, focusing on increasing paid internships, particularly for first-generation and Pell-eligible students who often face barriers in participating in career related opportunities. When the opportunity to join Graduate Career Services arose, Amanda saw it as the perfect way to bring her experience and dedication to a new audience — graduate students.
A New Role, A New Community
Now, as the Associate Director of Graduate Career Services, Amanda brings her passion and commitment to supporting graduate students as they navigate their career journeys. Her main goal is to build relationships with students and help them feel prepared for their careers. “They are the experts in their fields. I am here to assist students in showcasing all the amazing work that they are doing in an application,” she says.
Amanda and fellow presenter at the 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Conference.
Amanda also emphasizes that career planning should not feel overwhelming. “It is never too early to start thinking about your resume or CV,” she advises. “By the time you graduate, when you are working on your dissertation or thesis, it should not be an additional ‘uh-oh’ moment where you realize you have another hurdle to complete. I want students to know that these resources are here, and I am here to meet students where they are at.”
One of Amanda’s key initiatives is increasing in-person opportunities for students to connect and learn together. “We have all gotten used to Zoom, but you do not always get nearly as much out of a Zoom meeting as you do in person,” she explains. Amanda hopes to create more spaces where students from different departments can come together to ask questions and learn from each other in a supportive environment.
Supporting Students from Diverse Backgrounds
Amanda is particularly passionate about helping students from diverse backgrounds recognize the value of their unique experiences. “Many students tend to second guess their abilities while searching for positions, but they often bring a wealth of experience that they do not realize is valuable,” she says. Her asset-based approach to career services highlights the importance of leveraging students' personal backgrounds in job applications, something she has learned to do for herself throughout her career.
In her previous roles, Amanda worked to create more equitable opportunities for students, especially first-generation and Pell-eligible students, who tend to participate less in paid internships. She continues this focus in her current position, ensuring that students from all backgrounds can access resources and find success. One of the most rewarding parts of Amanda’s job is witnessing the success of students she’s mentored. “It’s exciting to see someone take your suggestions, apply them, and then have a successful outcome with interviewing or getting a job,” she shares. “I also love learning from students. Everyone has different situations, and it gives me more context on how I can better serve students.”
Amanda in Washington D.C. for USDA HSI Kika De La Garza Fellowship.
Advice for Graduate Students
When it comes to common misconceptions about career planning, Amanda highlights the importance of time management. “I think time sneaks up on students,” she says. “A lot of students think, ‘I have time to work on this later,’ but before you know it, you are graduating, and you’re looking back realizing, ‘what did I actually do in that position?’”
Her advice? “Always think of your resume or CV as a living document. When you get a new opportunity, constantly update it. It is something I try to practice as well, right now ‘I need to add three things to my CV before I forget,’ because then it will be a year from now, and I will not remember.”
Through her work, Amanda is dedicated to ensuring every graduate student at the University of Arizona feels equipped to navigate their unique career paths with confidence. Her journey, marked by embracing changes, serves as an example of how challenges can lead to rewarding new opportunities.
For more information about the current events and services offered by Graduate Center Career Services, visit the Career Services section of the Graduate Center website. Associate Director Bogden is also available via email at bogdena@arizona.edu.