Dana Yarbrough is the associate director of strategic initiatives for the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia's university center for excellence in developmental disabilities located at Virginia Commonwealth University. Among her many roles at VCU, Dana directs the Center for Family Involvement and its initiatives statewide to support diverse families of children and young adults with developmental disabilities to become effective advocates for their children and leaders for systems change. She also oversees the work of the Partnership to build youth leaders. Dana is the mother of a young adult daughter who in spite of significant support needs for physical, intellectual and physical disabilities owns her own dog boarding business. Dana holds a masters degree in non-profit leadership and a masters in special education secondary transition.