2025 District 6 Rising Star
Danielle Mar
Digital Outreach Specialist
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA
What are some of Danielle’s biggest accomplishments since starting at Golden West College (GWC)? Originally hired as a digital outreach specialist to oversee social media, Danielle has increased GWC’s Instagram follower count by almost 20% in two years. She produces content that is creative, on brand and trendy. She shoots and edits photos and video, creates eye-catching graphics and writes engaging captions. Danielle also masterminds targeted communications for various audiences, providing board newsletters, high school counselor updates, outreach campaigns, special publications, and student and alumni spotlights. She leads campus tours for middle and high schoolers, powers recruitment events with her positive energy and authenticity, and coordinates the schedules and missions of GWC’s student assistants.
What traits make Danielle stand out in the field? Her creative work isn’t just fun to look at; it’s also student-focused, inclusive and meaningful. This mindset is a result of her time as a community college student, when she was student body president during COVID. She’s the picture of positivity and has a can-do attitude. Danielle has also been gifted with curiosity and a desire to learn: When she has a question, she asks someone to teach her. For example, when she’s editing video for social media and can’t quite get a transition to work, she taps the videographer for guidance.
What abilities does Danielle bring to the GWC marcom team? Danielle can do it all: design, photography, video and writing. She also takes constructive feedback well and improves her skillset daily. For example, when she first started writing student spotlights, she would ask for feedback from a writer on campus. As she’s written more spotlights and features, she continues to improve, garnering fewer and fewer edits.