Dana Minney has seven years experience as a data leader conducting program evaluation in education and the non-profit sector. She currently applies research methods and analysis to grant-funded improvement efforts in a K12 district.  Prior to earning a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a Program Evaluation concentration from Texas State University, Dana spent ten years as an independent coach, trainer, and consultant for individual clients and teams. Her specialty was helping leaders, caregivers, professionals, and entrepreneurs  to leverage their strengths, design and implement seed projects, and improve communication patterns in their personal and professional lives.

An endless search for knowledge and desire for an impactful life lead her to seek out mentors and collaborative partnerships that lasted many years. One such collaboration was engaging in coursework in innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship with international organization Sage University.  Additionally, as a graduate student, her work as a research assistant in family financial coaching and her work evaluating social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum in an after-school care center enriched her skillset and perspective and resulted in a career highlight– conducting a multi-year field study–and resulted in two publications, one in the Journal of Youth Development.

The most recent achievement was earning a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership in Higher Education from St. Edward’s University. The additional tools and knowledge base learned in these studies combined with acquired experience and training now allow for a more comprehensive approach to people, organizations and the development, improvement, and analysis of both.  Dana learned the importance of research-based practice and evaluation since there is no human development, change, or progress without measurement. She continues to advocate for equity-focused change and was awarded a More Just World scholarship for her doctoral study on data-informed decision-making at St. Edward’s University.

Dana has delivered seminars and talks all over the world, written, presented, published and practiced while in pursuit of her personal best. She is a voracious reader–of both fiction and non-fiction, has a vast curiosity for new sources of best practice evidential research, and  continually strives for her personal best. She lives in Central Texas with her fiancé and twin sons, and her international client base tunes in from many corners of the globe.

PUBLICATIONS and PRODUCTS:

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

  • EdD Organizational Change & Leadership in Higher Education                                   St. Edward’s University: Austin, TX.   
  • MS Human Development & Family Studies                                                                               Program Evaluation & Administration concentration                                              TX State University: San Marcos, TX.
  •  BA Communication Studies & BA Sociology                                                                            University of California Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara, CA.
  • Coaching, Leadership and Entrepreneurship                                                                           Sage University: International

HONORS, AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS

COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPERIENCE

  • Healthy Lifestyle Chair, Casey Elementary PTA; 2012 – 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
  • National PTA Grant recipient, Healthy Lifestyle; 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
  • Parent Ambassador Bertha Casey Elementary School; 2014 – 2015
Partial list of organizations/events where Dana has presented:

American Evaluation Association (AEA) Annual Conference, 2023

Women’s Leadership Conference (sponsored by the American Business Women’s Association-ABWA)

G.W.E.N.-Global Women Entrepreneur Conference (Ibiza,Spain)

MapCon-Money and Power Conference (sponsored by Women’s Chamber of Commerce WCC)

African-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC)

Women’s Business Center of California (WBCC)

Women of Vision, International (WOVI)

Lake Austin Spa and Resort

West Lake Rotary Club

KAZL Radio Station

Texas Chiropractic

Georgetown Railroad

Brown, Graham & Co.