Amanda Butler, M.S., CCLS profile and information
Learn more about Amanda Butler, M.S., CCLS
- Director of Child Life Programs
More bio information
Short Bio
Accepting new graduate students: Yes
Accepting new undergraduate students: Yes
Amanda Butler is the Director of Child Life Programs at Auburn University. The Child Life Program began as an undergraduate degree concentration, but under Amanda's leadership has become a four part program since 2016, with an undergraduate child life concentration, a Master of Science in Child Life, an Advanced Standing Program for child life specialists already working in the field, and a clinical program designed to train child life students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Amanda has published several works, including Play and Therapeutic Interventions in Child Life (Kelly, S., Ard, M., and Butler, A., 2026) and Cortisol and the Common Cold: Children's Stress and Their Health (Newberry, A., Mize, J., 2012). Amanda's greatest passion is inspiring and supporting budding child life students on their pursuit to becoming a CCLS.
Education
M.S.Auburn University2012
B.S.Auburn University2011
Professional Experience
Director of Child Life Programs, Auburn University, 2018- present
Certified Child Life Specialist, Smile-A-Mile, 2021-2022
Head Teacher, Auburn University Early Learning Center, 2016-2019
Certified Child Life Specialist, Erlanger Children's Hospital, 2015-2016
Child Life Specialist, Columbus Regional Medical Center, 2011-2012
Innovation
Publications:
Newberry, A. & Mize, J. (2013). Cortisol and the common cold: Children’s stress and their health (Master’s thesis). Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Newberry, A. & Sailors, J. (2012). Child life map (Undergraduate thesis). Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Presentations:
Yordy, M., Perry, S., Lambert, A., Ard, M., Kelly, S., and Butler, A. (2025, September). SOUND Waves [Podium Presentation]. 9th Annual Southeastern Association of School-University Partnerships
Lambert, A. and Butler, A. (2025, March). Yikes! My First Pediatric Clinical [Podium Presentation]. 1ST Annual National Consortium for Nursing Academic Coaches Conference
Engagement
Partner with School of Nursing for Tiger Cub Clinic, an annual community outreach and academic teaching event held since 2019 (previously known as Pediatric Skills Day)
Partner with School of Nursing for number SOUND events in the community, which provide education about and support for children and adults with sensory needs and invisible disabilities.
