Dana Hantel

Profession:

Professional Development Coordinator (and project lead for creative placemaking endeavors) at Coalfield Development

Five Words About Me:

I like words and puzzles

One Surprising Skill:

I’m a decent singer, but I mostly just sing to my dog because I’m such a homebody

Dana was raised along the Middle Island Creek in Doddridge County, where she was an old soul, a tomboy, a scholar-athlete, an avid reader, and a tamer of stray cats. She holds a BSW and a JD from WVU, along with an MFA from the University of Wyoming. She has worked as a lawyer, educator, and writer. She co-owned a successful bicycle retail business in Arizona and has been a certified personal trainer since 2011. Dana spent over a decade in the American West, where she experienced Wyoming winds, Colorado snows, and Arizona heat; met some amazing dogs and humans; and competed in an absurd variety of athletic events. After coming home to the Mountain State with her favorite mutt, Cosmo, she led an arts and culture based social enterprise at Coalfield Development before becoming the Professional Development Coordinator. She remains the project lead on creative placemaking endeavors.