Amanda Barajas

Fulbright University of Bristol Summer Institute

Born and raised in Montgomery, Illinois, Amanda Barajas is a junior at Carnegie Mellon University pursuing an interdisciplinary degree in Fine Arts and Humanities Analytics. Amanda’s experiences working in curation and archives have nurtured her interest in exploring local and global histories – namely, how access, preservation, and political forces shape which stories are shared, and which voices are lost in the vernacular. These inquiries are reflected in Amanda’s art practice, where she has spent the past year exploring her mixed family heritage and community-focused storytelling through print, digital media, GIS mapping, and installation-based work. Through her artwork, as well as her contributions to academic and digital humanities research, she is inspired to work on projects that can help others document and grow closer to their communities.

At the University of Bristol, Amanda is excited to explore historic sites and the local music scene, soak in the culture of the UK alongside her peers, and learn how she can translate her passion for creative and archival work into direct action and community engagement. When she’s not writing papers or reorganizing files, you can find Amanda crocheting, doodling in parks, and listening to Cocteau Twins on repeat.