Her Story
About Danette
Danette Lopez is a Doctor of Education who graduated in 2025. She also holds a Master's in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's in Business Management, and she is a Certified Research Specialist. Her main focus is advocating for neurodivergent people, with her specialty in autism and preparing high school students on the spectrum for post-secondary education. Lopez opened her museum in 2019 after collecting and honoring antiques for about 15 years, drawing from a lifelong love of antiques and museums inspired by her father. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Educational Honor Society, Basic General Honor Society, and Museum Association. Lopez attributes her success to her relationship with God, which helped her through personal challenges including the loss of her son in 2024. She advises not stressing over what cannot change and encourages young women to know their worth and persist despite competitiveness. Her values are rooted in the Word of God, emphasizing doing right by people, loving one's neighbor, and being a positive influence and encourager.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Danette
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God Almighty. He has made me a very strong, determined person who doesn't stop. In 2024, I lost my son through suicide towards the tail end of my doctorate, and I had to totally lean on God to get me through it. My relationship with the Lord is what carried me through.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received is not to stress over what cannot change. Interchange the things you can. No one... say, okay, this is out of my control, I can't do anything about it. And... move forward. I try not to focus on things that I can't control. I try to stay away from that mindset of, I can't, I can't, I can't. It's move forward. What you can do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that despite all of the competitiveness out there, and Society has a tendency to Not women the credit that they deserve? And I would say, Push back... push past that, know who you are, know your worth, And... Don't ever give up. Don't give up. Persistence. We'll take a person far.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the field of education, working with the neurodivergent mind, there's a lot of opposition. Where people don't believe that it's real. Children struggle with having a divergent mind, whether it's autism, ADHD, Tourette's, whatever it is. I get a lot of... We just need to stop being labeled... I get a lot of... it's not as serious as you can make it out to be. And, and I want to show people that it is in every person, whether they're neurodivergent or whether they're neurotypical, that they have a purpose in life. I want to help them for that purpose.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values is to, according to the Word of God, the Bible, and I base my life on the Scriptures. And, and walking with... with the Lord. My values come straight out of the Word of God. do right by people, love your neighbor as yourself. The greatest commandment is to love, and so I try to be a very positive influence in people's lives. And to... I'm an encourager, and to show them the good side of things. The positive side of things.
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