Hometown: Louisville, KY
Majors/Minor: Public Policy & Human and Organizational Development/Corporate Strategy

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2018-19 Traveling Fellow
A Changing Landscape: Exploring the Identity, Role, and Perception of the Military

Although civilians revere the military, most seem to have lost touch with it. Since the United States ended the use of a military draft in 1973, our armed forces have relied entirely on volunteers. Today, less than half of 1% of the American population serves in the military, yet 72% of Americans say they have a “great deal of confidence” in the military. The same research shows that 71% of civilians note that they do not understand the problems that those in the military face.

The research seems to be sending an explicit message from civilians: though we thank them for their service, we lack a general engagement with or understanding of the armed forces. Is this civil-military relations gap normal? Should it be different, or what does it look like in other countries around the world, and what are the consequences of a different relationship?

Throughout her time at Vanderbilt, Danielle spent her summers interning at Google, the Hudson Institute Center for Political-Military Analysis, and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Danielle’s most meaningful college experience was her study abroad on Semester at Sea, where she lived on a boat and traveled to twelve countries in 104 days, studying international markets and religion across cultures. She has also spent time abroad at London School of Economics, where she studied econometrics and post-conflict democracy building. While at Vanderbilt, Danielle was the president and site leader of Manna Project International (a spring break service trip organization), an editor for the Vanderbilt Political Review, a teaching assistant in the Managerial Studies Department, and a Vanderbilt Tour Guide. In the Nashville community, she was part of the local women's fly fishing team, Music City Fly Girls.

After Danielle’s year of travel, she decided to join the U.S. military. She commissioned through U.S. Navy Officer Candidate's School in 2019 and is now an Ensign in the United States Navy.