As a child there wasn't enough money for her to buy soccer shoes, so she borrowed hand-me-down cleats from the boy next door.

She even had to launch her own fundraising campaign canvassing the neighborhood for donations so that she could attend soccer camps.

Amanda Vandervort's remarkable journey has taken her from those challenging times as a youth, to a soccer scholarship at Wyoming, a collegiate head coaching position, a vice president of fan engagement for Major League Soccer (MLS) in New York City and finally to her current role as Chief Women's Football Officer for FIFPRO, the global players' union for professional soccer players.

Located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Amanda's job is to represent FIFPRO's female players. She travels the world doing just that.

"My job is to represent our female players with our national union members, stakeholders, and the greater soccer community," she says.

Amanda does her job extremely well, obviously.  But, then, she's always been successful at whatever she's done.

She was an outstanding keeper for the Cowgirls from 1997 through 2000.

"Soccer has always been, and will continue to be, a huge part of my life," Amanda admits. "It's those early days of struggle and triumph that drove my commitment to soccer, as a student-athlete at UW, then also as a coach and a business professional today.  The sport gives me purpose, community and an awareness that there is so much more out there.  It instilled qualities like focus, motivation and self-discipline.

"Today, I believe that it's my responsibility to give back to the game, to create access and opportunity for anyone around the world who might benefit from soccer the way I did. To ensure that marginalized groups have the same rights and opportunities to play and work in the sport they love because it's more than soccer for so many of us."

In addition to her full-time position, Amanda volunteers much of her time to non-profit organizations dedicated to women's soccer, gender equality, youth development and community engagement.

She credits much of her success to the coaches for whom she played. "I've been fortunate to play for some amazing coaches, and have been influenced by many tremendous people during my soccer career, Amanda says. "My high school coach, Alesha Kientzler, taught me the power of mental toughness.  Anne Moore, my coach at UW, inspired me to be a team leader while appreciating the critical and sometimes confronting role of being a team captain.  A youth soccer administrator named Charlotte Moran challenged me to understand the influence we have outside the white lines, to positively impact the lives of those within them."

According to Amanda, it was a combination of those individuals who inspired her to serve five years as the Chair of the United Soccer Coaches Women's Committee.  In 2016 she became just the fifth female President in the United Soccer Coaches' 75-year history.  During her time in that role, the board of directors was restructured, the bylaws were rewritten, the foundation was rebranded, and membership was increased.

"The credit for those accomplishments certainly goes to my fellow board members and our staff, but also coaches like Alesha, Anne and Charlotte who inspired me to see possibility and have the strength and confidence to pursue it."

She has many fond memories of UW.  "I chose Wyoming because I wanted a new environment, a different experience than what I had grown up with.  I wanted a new challenge where I could be part of building a soccer program from the ground up.  I loved the players I met on my recruiting trip and knew right away they'd be my lifelong family, and to this day we all remain best friends.  

"I also appreciated the opportunity to travel with my best friends around the country and play against schools in places I never would have even dreamed I'd have the opportunity to see in person.   I was thankful and inspired to see amazing places and represent the University of Wyoming with great pride."

Following her graduation from UW with a degree in in Communications, Amanda moved across the country to join the College of New Jersey as a graduate assistant while earning her master's in Educational Technology.  From there she went on and became the head soccer coach at New York University.  She spent four years in that role.

Vandervort began her business career as the Director of Website, Marketing and Camps at the Chicago Red Stars, a founding franchise of Women's Professional Soccer, and later moved to the league office in San Francisco to manage digital and social media operations. "Being part of the build-up of a professional sports league was one of the most inspiring and exciting times of my life.  But, when the league folded just a few years later, losing my job was one of the hardest times of my life."

Things turned around for her when she began consulting for Major League Soccer (MLS) in New York City on social media strategy.  It wasn't long before she was the MLS' Director of Social Media, charged with creating a long-range plan while managing day-to-day operations which eventually led to the Vice President for Fan Engagement, working with club presidents on strategic planning, fan growth and business development.  "I loved my time at MLS," she says, "and learned so much by helping to build the organization into a league of choice for fans, players, staff and sponsors across the U.S. and Canada."

Like every other entity in the world, Amanda and her organization are working on a coordinated approach to address the consequences of Covid-19.  "Overall, we are doing everything we can to work with the global soccer community to safeguard players--and for my position specifically--help ensure the stability and longevity of the women's game.

"On the women's side, there is great concern for the future of the teams, leagues and competitions. We must take an open, collaborative approach that seeks and appreciates the view of the players to not only limit the damage to our industry, but to implement a comprehensive roadmap going forward."

Amanda is quite a role model for young women, wouldn't you say?  Her answer when asked what piece of advice she might give current student-athletes is a window into what she is all about, the kind of person she is.

"Find your north star, that thing that gives you purpose and inspiration, and let it guide you," she says. "Job opportunities have come and gone in my life, but understanding my "why" has always kept me grounded and given me both peace and confidence when faced with difficult choices."

Amanda is obviously special.  This university could not have a better ambassador.