Dana Gresham graduated from James Madison University in 1988 with a B.S. in Special Education with an emphasis in emotional disturbances. During her time at JMU, she was active in Special Olympics and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Since graduating, she earned her M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D. from the College of William and Mary.

Dana has spent the past 34 years as an educator and has taught in a number of schools including Oakland School in Keswick, Virginia, and Virginia Randolph Special Education Center in Henrico, Virginia. She also served as a Consultative Teacher for Special Education in Henrico County. She has been employed for 24 years by Hanover County Public Schools where she has served as Assistant Principal at Atlee High School, Principal of Rural Point Elementary, and Principal of Hanover High School. She is currently serving as Director of Professional Development, Leadership, and Federal Programs and Principal of the Hanover County Online School.

Dana and her husband, Ken Hostetter, are the proud parents of a son and a daughter (who is a 4th generation teacher!) and live in Montpelier, Virginia. Dana enjoys horseback riding and time on the water in her free time.

Dana enjoys every opportunity she gets to visit JMU and proudly “bleeds purple”. She greatly values the opportunity to serve on the College of Education’s Executive Advisory Council as it affords her the chance to give back to the University that has given her so much. She believes that JMU's College of Education is leading the way in training and supporting teachers and educational leaders who will positively impact our profession for decades to come.