After receiving a B.A. in Communication from Southern Illinois Unversity at Edwardsville in 1992, Amy worked for a Fortune 500 company in St. Louis in the Communications Department writing material for annual reports, quarterly statements and employee magazines. She received her Master's Degree in Public Administration in 1998. She joined the University of Illinois in 2001 after working in the private sector in employee communications and process improvement.

Amy has volunteered as a Board Member of the Alumni Association at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and has served in various leadership roles with the Central Illinois HR Group (CiHRG) and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Amy holds her certification as SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional).