Amanda Kraus Named CEO of US Rowing

US Rowing has named Amanda Kraus as its new chief executive officer. Kraus, the founder and CEO of Row New York, will begin her new role on November 1.

“We are thrilled to announce that Amanda will be joining US Rowing as our CEO later this fall,” said US Rowing Board Chair Marcia Hooper. “She brings tremendous leadership and fundraising skills, community development and outreach experience, and diversity and inclusion efforts to our team. She is a proven leader in our sport, having built Row New York into one of the country’s most admired rowing organizations.”

Kraus started Row New York 18 years ago by putting $5 into a bank account and reading a book about starting nonprofits. She has ultimately built an organization with a $5 million operating budget. Row New York has impacted the lives of thousands of teenagers, as well as veterans and people with disabilities.

“I think we’re at an exciting inflection point at US Rowing where we have an opportunity to change and grow,” Kraus said. “I look forward to leading us into that future, while building on our strong foundation. First, I plan to do a lot of listening to all of the stakeholders. I need to understand what everyone wants and needs from US Rowing. I have my ideas already, but it’s important to hear from the broader rowing community — how can we best be a resource to rowers and rowing programs, from people just learning to row to our Olympians.”

Kraus is an adjunct associate professor at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service and has been the recipient of numerous awards including US Rowing’s John J. Carlin Service Award in 2008, the Anita DeFrantz Award in 2011 and the NYU Partnership Award for serving girls and women with disabilities. In 2012, she received the Community Leadership Award from President Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

“I’m looking forward to helping the sport better reflect the rich diversity of this country,” Kraus said. “For too long, our idea of a ‘rower’ has been limited, and it’s time to bust open that door, to welcome all who want to row, to celebrate diversity and to redefine what and who a rower can be. I truly believe that only good can come from this effort. I’m eager to build up revenue and find our champions for the sport — those individuals who want to help US Rowing become one of the best governing bodies of sport in the country. Rowers are known as workers, as teambuilders, as problem solvers, so I have little doubt we can build this support, even in the midst of a pandemic.”