On the Job

I have spent my career looking for opportunities to help people. I worked close to a decade as a firefighter/EMT and in emergency management, and truly enjoyed my experiences and the personal connections with my community. I also worked for a time in alumni relations at the University of Virginia, and I was happy to foster chances for former students to stay connected with the memories and friends they made while in college. I currently work in the Equal Employment Opportunity office at the National Institutes of Health, and every day I look forward to working with the talented staff charged with making the new health and scientific discoveries that impact the world each day.

At Home

I am a movie nut and I love spending time on the couch watching both new and old films… and I also love digging into new shows on the streaming services! One of my long-time, pie-in-the-sky wishes is to be a Hollywood screenwriter, so I have also been building a masterpiece screenplay in my mind for some time now… To counter that couch-lounging, I also like to incorporate exercise into my day on a regular basis. Keeping active is important for good health, and I want to make sure that my body is ready to handle anything that comes my way. I am generally an early riser who likes to do a few things before the rest of the world gets up, but I also like to occasionally stay up late to watch a good football or basketball game if the score is close. Home is the place for family, rest, and rejuvenation, and I try to take advantage of opportunities to get the most of all these things!

Laurena says…

Danny is an avid soccer lover (and player) who is a big kid at heart. He is also the yin to my yang. Wherever I wobble, he is superstrong. He has a brilliant mind and he uses it to make everyday tasks easier for me. He literally thinks of everything and he meets my needs before I even know I have them. Danny is wonderful with words which couples synergistically with his caring spirit. He is going to be a wonderful dad, amazing cheerleader, coach and (coupled with me) this child’s biggest fan.

Favorite Things

Soccer

That's me in the middle of the back row! I have loved playing and watching soccer for the majority of my life, and I recently came out of a self-imposed retirement brought on by the pandemic when the soccer leagues shut down. My new squad won our social league back in the fall, and this may be the perfect time to go right back into retirement... one and done!!

I have also been a big fan of Manchester United for a few decades, and was even lucky enough to get to see them play in person at their home stadium in Manchester, England during a work trip a few years ago.

Volunteering

I've been volunteering on some level for most of my life and there are lots of reasons. The short version is that I enjoy it. I volunteer for organizations that align with my values, or offer services to the community that I've needed to utilize in the past, or teach skills to which everyone should have access. Since time is something we can't get back I see giving my time as a way to support meaningful causes.

I've had so many experiences I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. I've learned a lot about life in general by hearing so many people's stories, and most importantly I've learned that community is doing something for the benefit of other folks without expecting something in return.

Most recently, I have been volunteering for a local nonprofit called Cake4Kids. Cake4Kids partners with agencies that support young people who are at-risk or underserved, including youth in foster care, group homes, homeless shelters, transitional and low income housing, domestic violence or human trafficking shelters, substance abuse programs, and refugees. Volunteers bake and deliver birthday cakes for these kids in situations where they may not have them otherwise. Birthday cakes were a big part of my life growing up, and I enjoy the opportunity to share a little bit of that happiness with those that might need it.

Cooking

I'm not a professional chef, but absolutely love cooking. What I love most about cooking is the ability to be creative. It allows experimentation with different spices, cuisines, and techniques. It also gives you the opportunity to learn about different cultures and cuisines, which can be fascinating.

Cooking your own food gives you a sense of satisfaction - knowing that you are able to provide for yourself and cook something amazing at the same time. I truly believe that anyone can cook, and it can be fun! Especially in the times we are in now, being able to check your fridge and cabinets to create something out of what you have is just an incredibly satisfying feeling.