![This is a professional photo of a Black businesswoman, with short hair. She is wearing a lavender shirt and scarf. The background is slate grey. The photo is taken from the waist and above.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-11/Dana%20van%20Ness.jpg?itok=QRXPlMb5)
Dana van Ness
Executive Assistant
she | her | we
Hello there, my name is Dana, and my pronouns are she / her / we. Outside of work, I am in solitude whilst day camping at a beach or walking in the woods. At home, I am sharing quality time with my heartbeats.
At heart, I am a humanist who values unconditional love. Service is my watchword, and a strong sense of justice is woven in the fibers of my spirit. As an Executive Assistant, I desire to allow my ideas and creativity to flow freely and to share my light where it is needed and valued.
I am unflappable under pressure and flexible during heightened workloads in the Office of Equity. Where there is uncertainty, I desire to be the voice that uplifts my team, carry some of the workload or burden, and celebrate our wins. I am the supporter and prefer being the last stop for answers and not pass anyone on but collaborate for a solution.
Sharing the burden of "how we got here" is also my responsibility and therefore I desire to hold myself accountable by being a safe space for stories, holding them, and sharing my own as a way of inspiring action. I am continuing to connect with community and give my voice.
When everyone on this planet feels loved and cared for and empowered to give their voice not as a weapon but as inspiration to impact sustaining change, then we will all feel whole again. When we remember humility as a collective, then we will know belonging.