A Phenomenal Woman Paving The Way For Future Leaders

The Phenomenal Women Under 40 Award recognizes exceptional women who have gone above and beyond in all that they do, including their amazing accomplishments and commitment to business growth, professional excellence and community service. This year, Brookdale’s Danielle M. Jones will be one of seven phenomenal women to be honored on Wednesday, September 22, by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

Jones serves as the Student Communications & Leadership Development Specialist for the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) at Brookdale Community College. In addition to overseeing the program’s outreach and communications, she serves as Club Advisor to both the EOF Student Alliance (EOFSA) and the Delta Alpha Chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society at Brookdale.

“In this challenging time, Girl Scouts more than ever need positive role models to inspire them and encourage them on their path to becoming leaders,” said Eileen Higgins, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

Phenom Award recipients were selected from a public nomination process that considered “leadership in the workplace, community volunteerism, and demonstrated hard work and dedication necessary to be a success,” noted Teri O’Connor, chairperson of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s Board of Directors in a recent GSJS press release.

“When I was in elementary school, I was in Girl Scout Troop #311, as a Brownie” said Jones. “My experience as a Girl Scout was empowering, and continues to play a pivotal role in the work I do today.  It is a place where girls of all ages take action, explore the unknown, plus work on projects that serves their community and changes the world.  It is an honor to be nominated and to receive this award.”

In 2017, Jones served as graduate intern for Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of New Jersey (AICUNJ), and Legislative District #11 for General Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey. In Fall 2019, Jones served as a Graduate Fellow for the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) for the State of New Jersey. In addition, she currently serves the Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee for the EOF Professional Association of New Jersey (EOFPANJ). Her two-year term as a Sector Representative for County Colleges (Central/South Region) was just completed in June of this year and then began a new two-year term serving as the Association’s Public Relations Officer on July 1, 2021.

On January 1, 2021, Jones was sworn in to serve a three-year term on the Eatontown Borough Council. In addition, she was appointed to serve as College Caucus Chair for the New Jersey Young Democrats (NJYD) in March 2021. Jones has successfully completed the six-month Institute for the New Jersey Chapter of New Leaders Council (NJC) in June 2021. She is actively involved with implementing voter registration and political advocacy initiatives for both Brookdale Community College and EOFPANJ. Jones enjoys planning outreach and advocacy events to educate students about civic engagement, community service, voter education, and government. Furthermore, she is engaged with local community leaders in Monmouth County to plan events and outreach to address various topics, including mental health, COVID-19 vaccinations, and social justice reform.

With her diverse work experience and academic training, Jones strives to utilize the knowledge, skills, and resources gained from her experiences to be successful in both her personal and professional life. She believes in collaboration, cooperation, and creating strategic partnerships in building successful relationships and networks. Her attention to detail, planning and organizational abilities, and interpersonal communication skills have served as valuable assets throughout her career.

Jones earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Cabrini University in 2013. She has also earned her A.A. in Social Sciences from Brookdale Community College in 2009. While enrolled at Brookdale, Danielle became a lifetime member of Phi Theta Kappa and Psi Beta, and was selected as the Student Commencement Speaker for the Spring 2009 Commencement.  She plans to re-enroll at Seton Hall University in Spring 2022 to complete a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in Non-Profit Management.