Amanda Atkinson

HR&A Advisors |Inclusive Cities practice - November 2025 – present

Policy, Outreach, and Public Engagement Consultant

•      Rise Higher Detroit transition of Mayor Mary Sheffield.

•      Facilitate multi-stakeholder policy action committees and community conversation events on topics including Safe and Just Communities, Law and Civil Rights, and Workforce Development.

•      Translate recommendations into actionable community outreach and develop strategic policy action plans during first 100 days in office.

•      Design and implement strategic onboarding for city leadership and departments to align with Mayor Sheffield’s values and priorities.

Community Relations Specialist, USCIS Headquarters, External Affairs, Camp Springs, MD | Nov 2016 – Oct 2025 

• Led strategic communications initiatives supporting national leadership on complex, high-visibility federal policy issues, often under intense public and media scrutiny.

• Managed national engagements for multiple portfolios including Asylum and Refugee, DACA, Keeping Families Together, Operations Afghans Welcome, EB-5, Military Naturalization, and Business visas.

• Drafted speeches, talking points, FAQs, toolkits, and confidential correspondence for senior leaders, applying discretion and accuracy. 

• Translated complex legal and policy initiatives and federal government programs into accessible plain language communication materials for diverse non-native English-speaking audiences. 

• Prepared senior leader to serve as public-facing spokespeople through message development, briefing materials, and interview preparation.

• Planned and executed national engagement events, both virtual and in person, coordinating high-level logistical oversight and executive support. 

• Built and maintained relationships with advocacy organizations, intergovernmental partners, and community leaders across the political spectrum.

Deputy Director / Acting Director, USCIS Field Office, Miami, Florida | May 2013 – Nov 2016  

• Directed operations and administrative functions for a large federal field office, including scheduling, facilities, and staff oversight. 

• Streamlined office workflows and implemented process improvements to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

• Served as the highest approving office official. Conducted naturalization ceremonies.

• Coordinated leadership meetings and represent the office in high-level stakeholder engagements. 

• Supervised large USCIS Field Office, both contractors and federal civil servant staff.

Management and Program Analyst, USCIS Headquarters, Customer Service and Public Engagement, Washington, DC | June 2012 – May 2013 

• Managed executive-level outreach and events, including logistical coordination and intergovernmental affairs, state, local, and tribal, for high profile initiatives including DACA, Asylum and Refugee, and EB-5.

• Developed strategies and tools to improve stakeholder communication and operational readiness.  Conducted internal and external training for local community relations outreach to align with national messaging.

• Wrote communications content for multiple platforms and supported leadership with talking points, presentations, web content, and FAQs. 

Asylum Training Coordinator, USCIS Headquarters, Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations, Washington, DC | July 2009 – June 2012 

•Oversaw all aspects of residential training for 50+ new federal officers per class, including scheduling, contracts, and staff management. 

• Coordinated with facility and program leadership to ensure seamless program delivery and compliance.  

• Authored and edited accredited training materials and exams.

Policy Adjudications Officer, USCIS Headquarters, Policy and Strategy, Washington, DC | Aug 2008 – July 2009 

• VAWA, SIJ, T, and U visa subject matter expert. Drafted national training and policy updates for Federal Register, requiring discretion with highly sensitive material. 

• Prepared executive-level policy documents and legal memoranda. 

• Conducted training for law enforcement and DHS personnel.

Asylum Officer, Miami Asylum Office and Chicago Asylum Office| June 2003 – Aug 2008 

• Conducted sensitive non-adversarial humanitarian interviews and wrote detailed legal decisions requiring accuracy, discretion, country conditions research, background in human rights, confidentiality, and compassion.

• Interviewed unaccompanied minor children, asylum seekers in detention for reasonable fear determinations, and national security cases.