Danielle Morgan Acosta (she/her/hers) returned to Clark University in July 2020 to serve as the Associate Dean of Students for Student Engagement & Belonging, focused on supporting students loving and making meaning of their Clark experience, before becoming the Assistant Provost and Dean of Students in 2025.
Previously, Danielle served as the Interim-Director of Student Engagement and Director of Student Governance & Advocacy at Florida State University, where she supported student government, the six largest identity-based student unions, the Allies & Safe Zones program, Welcome Week, Homecoming, Senior Sendoff, and the strategic vision and crafting of a vibrant and inclusive undergraduate and graduate student experience. Before moving to Florida, Danielle worked for Residence Life at Salem State University, supporting student leadership development, weekend programming, and the first-year experience.
Danielle received her Ph.D from Florida State University, where she conducted a phenomenological exploration of how undergraduate student leadership is influenced by divorce during childhood. Danielle received her M.Ed. from Salem State University. A two-time, first-generation Clark alum, Danielle received her B.A. in History with a concentration in Law & Society, and MAT as part of the 4+1 program, completing her student-teaching in Civics at South High. Danielle has taught undergraduate courses in leadership and change, prepared dozens of trainings regarding leadership, inclusion, systemic change, student voice, is a trained as a National Coalition Building Institute facilitator, and served as faculty for the ACPA Emerging Leaders Institute for five years.
Danielle is an active leader in ACPA, a professional association committed to racial justice, decolonization, and boldly transforming higher education, and completed her third three-year term on the Governing Board serving as the President 2021-2022. Originally from California, she is passionate about leadership, equity, the student experience, cooking, coffee, the ocean, exploring new places, eating local, having fun with her family, and taking her dog on walks around Worcester.
Students can schedule a meeting online.
