Danielle (Dani) Wendricks
Dani is the High School Application and Postsecondary Counselor for the College & Career Lab.
My role in the CFA
My primary role is to assist students from the College & Career Lab (CCL) in planning their educational paths. This includes guiding them through the critical transitions from middle to high school and from high school to life after graduation. Additionally, I contribute to the creation of educational curriculum, and this past summer I oversaw our four-week program designed for rising 8th graders. This included managing 14 NYU undergraduate student advisors and working with faculty presenters and staff from the various schools to deliver a safe, fun, and inclusive learning environment for students in their first year of our six-year program.
Most enjoyable thing about my work
I most enjoy working directly with the CCL students—their enthusiasm and determination inspire me, and they reinforce my optimism about the future. CCL’s interdisciplinary approach that encourages collaboration with various schools enables me to work with experts across disciplines, and share their insights with our students. I also appreciate that CFA prioritizes employee wellbeing.
Proudest recent accomplishment outside work
I’m proud that I am nearing the halfway point in my part-time Masters of Social Work at Silver School of Social Work! It has been difficult to manage full-time work, an internship at a mental health clinic, and coursework, while juggling my personal and social needs as well as maintaining my own mental health. I’m proud of myself for developing skills of being resourceful with time and resources, asking for help when I need it, and incorporating joy into my everyday life.
I most enjoy working directly with the CCL students—their enthusiasm and determination inspire me, and they reinforce my optimism about the future
Dani at the farewell ceremony for CCL’s Class of 2024
What I’d do if I could go back in time and choose a different career path
I’m in a very unique position where I get to think and learn a lot about careers. It’s not uncommon for me to sit in on one of the career lectures for our CCL students, and feel inspired to consider other career paths. My latest interest is in environmental science, which I’m sure would be a surprise to my family, as both of my brothers have a background in environmental science and they’ve always been much more outdoorsy than myself. Through hearing both Dr. Mary Killilea and Dr. André J. Butler present to CCL students, I have learned more about the application of environmental science in New York City and see the field as an opportunity to have a positive impact on society, something that I desire in a career. Ultimately though, I’m happy that my path thus far has been centered around education, nonprofits, and social work. I believe that it has informed my perspective on what it means to be equitable, inclusive, and an advocate for others, which are essential skills for all career paths, regardless of where I go from here.
Something that might surprise people about my role
While my role is focused on supporting our CCL students, from 8th grade to 12th grade, I work with a very wide range of stakeholders. I work closely with NYU undergraduate and graduate student workers, students in 8th–12th grades, their families, CCL alumni, NYU staff and faculty, as well as industry professionals.
Terrence Coffie
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Silver School of Social Work
I think it is every professor’s hope that the work they do would impact and influence their students to become agents of change in making a difference in the world. Being a former professor of Danielle, and now being able to participate in this work with her at CCL is one of the most rewarding accomplishments! Seeing her in this capacity only inspires my work as an educator in supporting and encouraging students to make a difference!
Anna Maguire
NYU Undergraduate Student and CCL Lead Advisor
While working at the College & Career Lab, I have had the opportunity to work directly under Dani as one of her Lead Academic Advisors. Until Dani, I had never experienced such a supportive and hands-on supervisor, willing to go the extra mile in order to meet the needs of every student. She has shown me how to lead with assurance and patience, even while successfully juggling a wide range of responsibilities. Since working with Dani, she has continued to provide me with ample career-related guidance, instilling in me the confidence to pursue a graduate degree and to keep fostering my leadership skills within College & Career Lab.