WIL Champions: Amanda Rockow

Amanda Oneacre Rockow is Vice President, Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas . She joined UTD in October 2006. In her position, Amanda serves as the chief government and community relations officer for the University. She works with elected and community officials to maintain awareness regarding legislative proposals, requests, and issues that may affect University operations. She also oversees the University’s relationships with many of the region’s chambers of commerce and business organizations.

Amanda currently serves on the boards of the Dallas Friday Group, the Plano Chamber of Commerce, and on the UTD Advisory Board for the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. She is past chairman of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas Friday Group. She is a past board member of the Dallas Assembly, Executive Women of Dallas, Collin County Judge Chris Hill’s Business and Industry Advisory Council, the UT Dallas Institute of Public Affairs, and the Alumni Council for The Lamplighter School. She is also involved with the Dallas Regional Chamber, the North Dallas Chamber, and the Dallas Citizens Council.

Prior to her time at UT Dallas, Amanda worked for 10 years at the Dallas Regional Chamber. At the Chamber, Amanda served as the Vice President for Government Relations for seven years. In this capacity, she advocated for regional business issues at the local, state, and federal levels of government. In addition, Amanda led the policy development activities for the Chamber, with a particular focus on air quality, transportation, and water initiatives. Before she joined the Chamber, Amanda worked for the City of Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her master’s degree in political science-legislative studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. She grew up in Dallas and is a graduate of Highland Park High School. Amanda, husband Jeff and their two daughters currently reside in Dallas. #RichardsonStrong #RichardsonTX #WIL #WomeninLeadership #EmpowerHer

The WIL Committee has asked Champions throughout our community to discuss topics on Leadership. Below is Amanda's discussion on how she's taught her daughters about leadership.

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My husband and I have the great fortune to be raising two beautiful daughters. Currently 10 and 13 years old, these girls amaze us daily with their unique personalities and thoughtful hearts.

As a working mother, I am constantly challenged with how best to instill the work ethic and leadership skills my parents encouraged in me as a child.

I try to model leadership for my girls by sharing with them about my work at UT Dallas.?I talk to them about speeches or key meetings for which I’m preparing, and we talk over the dinner table about how those meetings went and why they were important. ?

From another angle, I try to model leadership by being involved in their schools and in their activities – leading their Girl Scout troops, serving on their school PTAs and special interest booster club boards, and cheering them on in person when they win awards or receive special opportunities at school.

By modeling leadership and encouraging them as they are recognized, I think I’m teaching them about helping others and reaching for their goals. Also they think it’s pretty quirky, but ever since the girls were little, I often have said to them “be a leader” as they head off to school in the mornings.?In kindergarten it didn’t mean as much, but now as they are growing older, I think they are starting to get it. At least I think they are!

The mission of Women in Leadership at the Richardson Chamber of Commerce is to inspire, influence and champion women as they grow into their roles as business leaders in our community.

Women in Leadership hosts events, open to the public, to give women a chance to develop their network and hear from leaders in business and the community. Check our?calendar?for all upcoming Richardson Chamber events. WIL hosts the following:

• Quarterly luncheons?feature a keynote presentation aimed at building leaders
• Women4Women?networking?events are held in the evening at Richardson businesses and feature short presentations on professional and personal empowerment
• Holiday Vendor Fair?is held in the 4th quarter and is an opportunity for local vendors to share their products and services with the community