Danielle Likvan Swanson, LSC, LPC, NCC, is a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist at a middle school in the Jefferson County School District, the second-largest school district in Colorado. In this role, she collaborates with students, staff, families, and community partners to foster a positive, inclusive school climate by providing individual counseling and crisis support, facilitating small groups, developing data-driven and research-based SEL lessons, coaching teachers on effective SEL instruction, supporting school-wide MTSS implementation, and building partnerships that connect families to critical resources. Danielle’s professional practice is grounded in advancing social justice within educational systems and integrates counseling practice with research examining disparities in public schools and the ways race and gender experiences shape student well-being and educational equity. She was recently appointed as a voting member to her county’s Commission on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility. Prior to entering the counseling field, Danielle built a career in design, customer service, and leadership after earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, experiences that strengthened her skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. She also served as a Girl Scout troop leader for five years, fostering confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young girls. These diverse experiences inform her holistic approach, blending creativity, leadership, humor, and compassion in her work with students and school communities.