By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
Dana Robinson is a Baltimore native with a passion for helping others. With bettering the lives of others at the forefront of all that she does, Robinson is no stranger to service. Her community oriented attitude has been the driving force behind the many positions she’s held.
Most recently, Robinson became associate dean of strategic communications and marketing for the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON). She stepped into the role on Dec. 9. The communications expert and former Miss Delaware State University spoke with the AFRO about the people and places that have shaped her life and career path and what she’s hoping to bring to JHSON.
AFRO: What in your background prepared you for this position?
DR: I’m a proud Baltimore native, raised in public schools and a graduate of Edmondson Westside High School. I’ll be honest—I was a C student at best, but I always had a passion for community and bringing people together. My life changed when I received a second-chance scholarship to Delaware State University in 2003. I majored in mass communication and became Miss Delaware State University. That experience taught me how to adapt to new environments, take on leadership roles and connect with people in meaningful ways.
After graduating, I worked at nonprofits like the Arthritis Foundation and Planned Parenthood.
At Planned Parenthood, I started as director of communications in Maryland, expanding our outreach efforts from 20 events a year to over 300 and ensuring our volunteer base reflected the communities we served. I later moved to the national office, where I supported affiliates across the country, addressing critical healthcare challenges in states like Texas, Florida and Alabama, while also building Planned Parenthood’s presence at major national events like South by Southwest and Essence Festival.
Now, after two years of national work, I’m excited to be back in Baltimore. I’m looking forward to focusing on the incredible reproductive justice work happening here and reconnecting with the community that shaped me. Being home allows me to elevate the work we’re doing locally while bringing national perspectives to support Baltimore’s progress.
AFRO: How did you decide to make the move to JHSON?
DR: Some people have questioned why I’m moving from one large institution to another, but the answer is simple: I have big ideas. When I met with the dean and leadership team at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, they were open to these ideas, which made me excited about joining this space. Nurses play a huge role—they’re on the front lines with patients all day, addressing social determinants of health, pushing for better access to quality care and focusing on preventive care to keep people healthy from the start.
What Hopkins is doing now is building pathways for nurses to become policy changers, advocates and leaders in their own research. It aligns perfectly with my passion. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned about creating footprints in larger spaces and apply it here, helping to tell better stories about their research, patient care and the incredible work nurses do every day. Nurses understand the gaps in our systems and how to improve care better than anyone and I’m thrilled to help elevate their voices and contributions.
AFRO: What challenges are you anticipating in your new role? How do you plan on attacking them?
DR: I’m a feeling person, so I lead with my heart and head. I’m excited to join a dean who shares this balance, as I think it will make for a great team in driving change. The challenges ahead aren’t unique—uncertainty in our political landscape affects every industry. But one thing I bring from my nine years at Planned Parenthood is optimism. Fighting every day for access and equity taught me the importance of hope. Even in tough moments, we stayed focused on the people we served.
That’s the perspective I bring to Hopkins: centering people—students, staff, faculty and the broader community. By addressing their needs and creating innovative solutions, we can build healthier communities and–ultimately– a more equitable society. The road ahead might feel uncertain or heavy, but I believe in the power of collective effort. We’ve handled hard things before and while we shouldn’t have to carry everything, we can face these challenges together.
AFRO: What are some of your personal goals for this position?
DR: For me, the best gift is having healthy people around me. Leaving Planned Parenthood wasn’t easy, but the way I was celebrated as I left made me realize that I created a space where people felt safe and experienced more harmony in their lives. I believe in work-life harmony—not balance—where both aspects work together, especially in a place like Planned Parenthood, where one week might be heavy with media requests and the next could be quieter, offering time to recharge.
What truly fills me with joy is seeing people thrive, like when my students shared how much they loved the learning environment in my final class. Some even said they never wanted to learn before taking my class. My personal goal is to see people grow, become healthier and have a positive impact on their families. I’m also committed to helping my team grow and move on to better opportunities if they’ve outgrown their current roles. Watching people succeed in this way is the best gift I can receive.
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