Danielle Rowland, Senior Broadening Participation Programs Manager, was recently appointed as Native Nations Engagement Lead of the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), a role she will assume alongside her current management of many Office of Diversity and Inclusion student programs. In this critical leadership role, Danielle will guide the NSF NRAO’s efforts to build and maintain meaningful, respectful partnerships with Native communities, particularly those neighboring the NSF Very Large Array (NSF VLA) and the upcoming Next Generation VLA (ngVLA) and across all observatory settings.
Danielle will collaborate with NSF NRAO departments to develop and implement outreach strategies to enhance relationships with Native communities, foster cultural sensitivity, and advocate for community-driven initiatives within NSF NRAO.
“Danielle serves as a trusted and valued advisor to NRAO teams across the organization,” says Tony Beasley, NSF NRAO Director, “I am confident that Danielle’s leadership will help deepen our relationships with Native communities and support our commitment to being good neighbors and colleagues.”
Along with her experience leading NSF NRAO’s broadening participation student programs, Danielle brings to this important role a strong background in community engagement and an understanding of Native American cultures and contemporary issues. She is an enrolled member of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation located in Western New York State and has worked to build connections between indigenous scholars throughout her academic career through public presentations, community gatherings and outreach events.
Danielle’s accomplishments are impressive. As an astrophysics graduate from Columbia University, a National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) alum, co-I on the VA-NC Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Cosmic AI Director of Broadening Participation, and Senior Manager of ODI Student Programs, Danielle has helped build NRAO’s reputation as an international leader in the area of broadening participation in STEM.
Danielle’s recent presentation at the IAU, “Diversifying STEM: Collaborative Initiatives at NRAO”, highlights her significant impact on student achievement in STEM.
