Amanda Petersen is a thoughtful, creative, strategic thinker who specializes in applied research, evaluation, and data-informed decision-making. She is passionate about using mixed methodologies to support organizations in understanding their impact and improving outcomes. Amanda joined Wilder Research in 2012.

Amanda provides consultation on a wide range of research and evaluation projects, offering expertise in project coordination, survey instrument and sampling design, qualitative and quantitative analysis, strategic planning, and evaluation capacity building. Her work spans public health, education, child care, and rural communities, where she emphasizes translating findings into actionable insights that inform policy and practice. Her most recent projects include strategic planning for Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing and a community health needs assessment for Horizon Public Health.

Amanda has a master’s degree in public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota.
Amanda has volunteered with several community initiatives, including serving on her local nonprofit daycare board of directors.
She resides in Ely, Minnesota, where she enjoys trying out new recipes and exploring the outdoors with her family.