Now, as a doctoral candidate in the Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, her pursuit of research through the academy has been rooted in the gendered intraracial social behaviors she has witnessed within Black spaces, and also while working in professional competitive industries, including tech. By exploring the educational experiences of high-achieving Black girls and women as an intentional starting point, how they construct their academic and gendered racial identities, and how they seek positive peer relationships that sustain their pursuit for academic excellence, Danielle has discovered a relatively untapped gap in research, deepening understanding around their journeys.

Danielle believes this academic journey has been instrumental in shaping her consultative strategy to promote equity, inclusion, and belonging in systems, policies, and processes while also centering the voices and experiences historically excluded in academic research.