Shelley Danner

Shelley Danner serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Systems Design Thinking MFA program at the College for Creative Studies within the Faculty of Visual Development, while concurrently co-founding and directing the nonprofit Challenge Detroit since 2012. Her work spans 160+ community partnerships addressing urban challenges across Detroit.

Education:

• BS in Business Administration (Cum Laude), Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
• Leadership Coaching Certification, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Research Interests: Danner applies an interdisciplinary, systems-level, equity-centered methodology to design thinking and social innovation. Her expertise focuses on youth leadership development, community-driven solutions for homelessness and mobility, cultural ecosystem strengthening, and cross-sector collaboration between nonprofits, corporations, and government entities. She integrates corporate social responsibility frameworks with grassroots community engagement to address systemic urban challenges through co-created design interventions.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow for Young Cultural Innovators
• IDEO U Impact House Fellow
• Aspen Institute Fellow (Philanthropy and Social Innovation AMEX Nonprofit Leadership Academy)

Professional Leadership: As co-founder of Challenge Detroit, Danner has cultivated a network of community partnerships tackling youth advocacy, small business growth, and health equity. Her facilitation work extends to institutions including IE University, American University, University of Michigan, and the Detroit Institute of Arts, with recognition through White House participation at President Obama's South by South Lawn initiative in 2016.