Danielle Spence started writing stories when she was 8 years old.

“Creating characters, developing worlds and the creative process of storytelling were what ignited my passion,” she said. “However, in high school I wasn’t sure how to pursue this passion while being able to support myself financially. Writing, at least as a career, seemed out of reach.”

While figuring out what path to take, Spence decided to attend College of DuPage and focus on her general education requirements. It was a sensible choice that was close to home, and she was named a Presidential Scholar, which covered two years of tuition as well as enrollment in the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa. 

Along with helping me find my niche, COD helped me become a better communicator and a more well-rounded person.

Danielle Spence

Once she started at COD, Spence discovered many types of writing careers that could support her.

“Copywriting, grant writing, journalism, and editing were just a few paths that would allow me to combine my love for storytelling with my lifestyle goals,” she said. “COD helped me gain the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to become a writing professional.

“Along with helping me find my niche, COD helped me become a better communicator and a more well-rounded person. As I pursued the Professional Writing certificate, I took many classes focused on rhetoric and writing. Dr. Steven Accardi and his classes had a big impact on me. From interviewing professional communicators to producing a video about environmental waste, the lessons that I learned from Dr. Accardi and my fellow students shaped me into the writer and person I am today.” 

After earning her Associate in Arts degree and the Professional Writing certificate, Spence transferred to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in order to learn as much as she could about the various writing careers she could pursue. While there, she was a writer and news editor on the school’s newspaper, The Forum; a writing tutor at the University Writing Center; and an editor of two university publications, Equinox and Quills & Pixels. She also received the Best Undergraduate Writing award from UA Little Rock and another award from the Arkansas College Media Association for an in-depth news article. 

Spence graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing. After working as the marketing and communications manager for the West Chicago Park District, she is now the marketing content specialist at Woods Equipment Company. She loves her job and has ideas about what to do in the future.

“I hope I can contribute more to the animal welfare world as a grant writer,” she said. “In 2021, I started volunteering at the Animal Rescue Foundation in Wheaton as a marketing specialist and grant writer. Thanks to the skills I picked up at COD, I helped the rescue get two grants totaling over $20,000. 

“What’s great about grant writing is that I’m able to help the community while telling a story. I’m able to reconnect with my childhood passion, use what I learned in the classroom and make a positive impact on the community.”  

As for COD, Spence would recommend it to anyone, especially students interested in writing.

“COD is affordable, it has a beautiful campus with a lot of amenities and it has quality programs,” she said. “The Writing Studies program in particular is invaluable. I had projects I didn’t anticipate doing but they really contributed to my education. It’s not just about how to write well. The program teaches you how to think deeper, how to embrace the teachings of rhetoric and how to prepare for the workplace.”