Growing up in a rural community outside of Lynchburg, Amber is the daughter of a single parent who relied on afterschool programs for safe, reliable care. Her experiences in these programs from kindergarten through 12th grade shaped her commitment to youth development and her belief in the power of accessible, high-quality OST opportunities.

Amber has become a strong field leader, elevating the profile of OST in the Shenandoah Valley and statewide. She first spoke on a regional OST panel at the 2023 VPOST Conference, an experience that led her to joining the VPOST Conference Planning Committee in 2025, where she helped shape the vision and execution of the statewide event. She is an active member of the Harrisonburg Out-of-School Learning Coalition, collaborating with programs across her community to further expand access to and the quality of afterschool programs.

VPOST is immensely proud of our friend and colleague, Amber, and we look forward to celebrating her this week at NAA26!