Amand Hardiman

Biography

Amand Hardiman is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University. His research addresses the social motivations of individuals from minoritized communities in diverse contexts (e.g., sport, education, and religious environments). Specifically, he uses an intersectional systems lens to investigate how individuals and environments foster sense of belonging for groups that vary across race, gender, and social class. Amand is a Diversity Fellow in the Office of university President Noelle Cockett as well as in the Office of Graduate Studies. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Graduate Students of Color Association and serves on several diversity committees at both the department and university levels. Before pursuing his doctoral studies at USU, Amand obtained his Master of Education in Higher Education Administration and Bachelor of Science in Sport Management at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Alongside his academic endeavors, Amand has experience in coaching basketball at the high school and collegiate level. He also co-founded an organization called LearnYou Academy, which focuses on skill development, identity development, and academic enrichment for adolescent youth. He is a children’s book author, co-authoring Adam: A story about roots, racism, and friendship and is an aspiring motivational speaker.