About Danielle

Danielle (she/her/hers) is a student in the Joint Doctoral Program with San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University. She identifies as a first-generation college graduate from northern California. Prior to being a doctoral student, Danielle worked in higher education as an academic advisor. This work experience, as well as an interest in interrogating her own experiences as a student, sparked Danielle’s passion for educational research. Through her work, Danielle’s aim is to foster democratic and liberatory school communities for students.

In her free time, Danielle loves reading, walking her dog at the beach, taking care of her plants, and trying new coffee shops.

Higher Education Journey

Danielle attended UC Davis, where she earned her Bachelor’s degrees in English and Psychology. At UC Davis, she became involved with orientation and peer advising, where she found her love for working with students. It was here that she also connected with mentors, who introduced her to what a career working at the university could look like.

Two years into her first role as an academic advisor, Danielle began a Master’s degree in Organization and Leadership at the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Education. Here, she joined a research team that interrogated the impacts of disproportionate punitive school discipline and the school to prison nexus. Getting involved in this work transformed the trajectory of her career and with support from her femtors at USF, Danielle decided to pursue doctoral studies. Her work at USF has shaped the way she approaches research today; always from a humanizing, justice-oriented lens.

Research Interests

In her career as an academic advisor, Danielle was committed to providing student-centered support and developing restorative academic advising practices. This experience directly informs her research interests which include sense of belonging on college campuses, improving access to higher education for historically minoritized student populations, and restorative practices to support the persistence and retention of students navigating academic challenges.