Amanda Persons, PhD

Amanda Persons, PhD, joined the Provost’s Office in September 2024 as Director, Mentoring Programs, in the Office of Faculty Affairs. In this role, she designs, implements, and leads a comprehensive research mentoring program portfolio that leverages research mentoring best practices across the academic enterprise. She advocates for an inclusive culture of mentorship that aligns with personalized faculty career development. Additionally, her collaboration with educational mentoring and leadership development in the Office of Faculty Affairs ensures that faculty members at UTMB are equipped with exceptional programming and resources to thrive in their careers. 

Dr. Persons joins us from Rush University in Chicago, IL, where she was an Associate Professor with appointments in the Rush Medical College and the College of Health Sciences.  With a strong background in preclinical research, Dr. Persons has focused on psychiatric and neurological disorders, with an emphasis on substance abuse, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, and HIV. Specific research interests include risk factors for Parkinson’s disease, repurposing medications for substance use disorders and gambling disorder, and HIV/substance abuse comorbidity.  In addition to research, Dr. Persons has spent a significant part of her career in the educator space, designing and implementing curricula and teaching courses to students across a range of professions. 

Throughout her 15-year career as an educator and scientist, mentoring has been a central theme in all aspects of Dr. Persons’ work. Whether guiding students through complex scientific concepts in the classroom or collaborating with colleagues on research projects, she always found mentoring to be a powerful tool for fostering growth and development. As a preclinical researcher, she mentored junior scientists, helping them navigate the challenges of research in addiction and neurodegenerative disorders. In teaching, she supported students as they developed their foundational science knowledge, encouraging critical thinking and professional development. This commitment to mentorship has shaped her approach to leadership, making her passionate about creating environments where faculty can grow their academic careers through guidance and support. 

Dr. Persons received her bachelor’s degree (biology and chemistry) from Lewis University and her doctorate (pharmacology) from Loyola University Chicago.  She completed a postdoctoral fellowship (neurodegenerative disorders) at Rush University. In her free time, Dr. Persons loves exploring new places through travel, always on the lookout for unique experiences and hidden gems. When she’s closer to home, you’ll often find her riding around town on a Vespa with her dog, Luci.  She has an enthusiasm for history, and she spends time listening to podcasts that delve into fascinating historical events and figures (medieval history is a favorite). To balance it all out, Dr. Persons indulges in ballroom dancing with her husband Jack, which allows her to be physically active while also exercising her brain.