During her time at Quinnipiac, Amendola took advantage of the School of Business dual-degree 4+1 program, designed for outstanding students who want to reap the benefits of completing a two degrees in just five years. In her senior year as an undergraduate, Amendola also began undertaking graduate courses which counted toward both her bachelor’s degree in marketing and her MBA.

“I learned so much and it also removed the crunch to take the first job that comes your way after you get your undergraduate degree,” said Amendola. “What that year gave me was the ability to take my time finding the job I really wanted. Not only did it give me the time to figure out what I wanted, but I ended up having so much to talk about because of the plus-one program. It was a great thing to bring up in interviews. It supplied an extra level of credibility.”

Amendola said she also made the most of participating in a variety of opportunities during her Quinnipiac experience. Through the School of Business, she participated in the Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum, the largest student-run financial conference in the world, where students are encouraged to discuss and debate financial practices with world-renowned industry leaders. Amendola was also involved in Greek life as an undergraduate student. As a member of Chi Omega, Amendola was inducted into the Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society and Rho Lambda Honor Society for her achievements. 

As a graduate student, Amendola participated in Quinnipiac’s MBA Society, a student-run organization dedicated to enhancing the academic, social and professional skills of all members, while also developing a strong community among students. Amendola also learned a great deal from her participation in programs which have been carried out by the M&T Bank Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

“Now, I recognize all of those meetings and having conversations with people you don’t know, and having to push yourself out of your boundaries, helps you so much in the workforce,” she said. “I’m in a client-facing role today so I talk to people from all walks of life and all educational backgrounds. Being able to connect with people and meet them where they are is something Quinnipiac helped me to be able to do.”

She also credits her father, Brett Amendola '91, and mother, Kristina Stephens '93, both Quinnipiac alumni, with inspiring her to make the most of her Quinnipiac experience.

Upon completing her MBA, Amendola began her current role as an adviser consultant with Lord, Abbett & Company, an independent, privately held, global asset manager that’s one of the oldest money management firms in the United States.

“I’ve been there just over two years and I plan on having a very long happy career with them,” said Amendola. “What I’ve found is such a great group of people and we also all enjoy what we do. I’ve learned so much and I’m with a company that has very similar values to Quinnipiac in terms of teamwork and being a part of something bigger than yourself.”