Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Danielle Binion serves as the Chief Strategy Officer, leading initiatives to enhance community engagement and partnerships. Her work centers on advancing the organization’s mission of achieving zero health disparities by fostering meaningful relationships with diverse communities, stakeholders, and partners across Missouri. Dr. Binion joins the Community Health Commission with extensive experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development, educational reform, and public health advocacy. As a recognized leader in her field, she has dedicated her career to addressing systemic inequities and creating innovative solutions that foster inclusive environments. 


Past Work

In her former role as Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Dr. Binion championed initiatives that amplified marginalized voices. Her leadership led to the creation of the Center for African American Health, a Six-Part Educational Series, Affinity Groups, the First-Generation Project, and a comprehensive Data Dashboard.

Before joining the Medical Center, Dr. Binion dedicated eight years working with Kansas City’s school districts through PREP-KC. There, she partnered with educational institutions, philanthropic organizations, and businesses to design equitable STEMM programs (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine). Key partnerships included: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Real World Learning Initiative Shared Pathways Model, The KCKPS BioPlus program in collaboration with KU Medical Center and Kansas City Kansas Community College, The Honeywell Opportunity for Prosperity through Education (HOPE) Scholarship Mentorship Program, and The Adjunct Fellows Scholarship, which expanded dual-credit certified instructors in PREP-KC schools.

Dr. Binion is from St. Louis. Before relocating to Kansas City, she worked in healthcare settings in St. Louis with the Red Cross and the St. Louis Public Health Department.

Education and Involvement

Dr. Binion earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a master’s in professional counseling from Lindenwood University, and a doctoral degree in leadership in higher education with a focus on instructional design and performance technologies from Baker University.

She is an active community leader, serving as board chair at Hogan Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, and as mentorship chair for the Cotillion, a youth development and scholarship program sponsored by the Kansas City, Missouri Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Delta Economic and Educational Development Foundation.


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