Amanda L. Shelton Senator Guam Legislature
Senator Amanda L. Shelton is the daughter of Gracialla Shinohara Shelton and the late former Senator Austin “Sonny” Shelton and from the village of Asan. She is the youngest serving senator taking office at age 28, and is the youngest woman ever to serve in the Guam Legislature. As a first term senator, Amanda builds on her policy making experience from both the local and federal levels of government. Amanda is a graduate of the Council of State Governments Western Legislative Academy. She developed her passion for public service while serving as the press secretary for Guam’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and as a policy advisor and chief of staff in the Guam Legislature. While running in her first campaign, Amanda graduated from the University of Guam with a Master of Public Administration degree in 2018 after being awarded the first ever UOG Presidential Community Achievement Award. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Communication from the University of Guam in 2012 and graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam in 2008. Amanda also serves in various community organizations such as the Guam Diamonds Lions Club and Soroptimist International of the Marianas. She is the vice president of the Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association and the past president of the University of Guam Alumni Association. Amanda enjoys working directly with young people as a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher and a former troop leader with the Guam Girl Scouts. As the chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education and the Advancement of Youth, Women and Senior Citizens, Amanda works effectively with her colleagues to pass important policy and to ensure resources are allocated to the most important needs of these communities. She was chosen as the National Association of Social Workers Guam Chapter 2020 Public Citizen of the Year. Amanda has authored public laws to protect our elderly against abuse and financial exploitation, and to protect our community by closing loopholes in the justice system by immediately requiring registration on the Sex Offender Registry. She championed legislation to increase Guam’s renewable energy portfolio to 100% by 2045 and gained bipartisan support to prohibit vaping in areas where smoking is banned. Amanda also fought to increase funding to both the Guam Community College and University of Guam to increase direct student support and distance learning opportunities. She is responsible for restoring the Summer Youth Employment Program to give up to 200 young people the opportunity to work and explore their passion for public service every year. Amanda continues to advocate a platform of service and respect for manåmko, meaningful pathways and opportunities for the youth, and protection of the environment. She is seeking a second term in office in the 36th Guam Legislature, and hopes to continue serving the people of Guam through public service.
67 | 50 Under 40: Emerging Leaders in the Government of Guam
