Aims alumna Danielle Irwin now walks the halls at Aims as an employee and mentor to current students. Her path at Aims has taken twists and turns, but ultimately led to self-discovery.
Danielle Irwin’s Full-Circle Journey at Aims
June 03, 2025
She is now dedicated to supporting students, driven by the same encouragement and guidance she once received from Aims faculty and staff on her own trek.
An Exploratory Academic Path
Danielle’s college journey began in 2010 when she enrolled at Colorado State University, straight out of high school. That college experience wasn’t what she was looking for at the time and she was unsure of her path. She then found herself at Aims, drawn to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
While she successfully earned her certification, the weight of addiction and personal struggles at the time made further studies and life a challenge. “I was really kind of heavy in an addiction lifestyle back in that time,” she admits. “Back then, I couldn’t balance my studies, work and my personal life.” She failed classes and withdrew from Aims in 2011, leaving higher education behind for what she thought was forever. Looking back at that time, Danielle wishes there had been more support at school for students struggling with addictions. “I think my recovery journey could have started long ago.”
It would be several years before Danielle found the strength to return to school. In 2019, after entering recovery, she decided to give college another shot. She enrolled in four online classes, testing the waters before stepping back onto campus. Soon after she started, COVID-19 forced much of Aims’ programming to go virtual, unexpectedly giving Danielle space to reconnect at her own pace.
She began pursuing a degree to become an elementary art teacher, influenced by time spent with her nephews during the pandemic. “We had been working on many art projects, and I just found that I enjoyed doing the art, working with them and teaching them.”
Danielle met Denise Pearson, the instructor of her Introduction to Education course. Denise recognized Danielle’s dedication and potential. “She reached out to me because she noticed that my work kind of stood out from other students,” Danielle recalled. “She could tell I was putting in a lot of effort and trying hard.” Denise invited her to restart the Future Educators Club, which Danielle led through virtual meetings and guest speakers during the pandemic.
After immersing herself in the creative process through art projects, “my major changed to studio art,” she recalls. “I wanted to focus mainly on getting my associate’s in studio art to take that with me to the education setting.”
Danielle explored various media, like drawing, sculpture, 2D and 3D design. Art became a therapeutic and inspiring force for her and a way to connect with others. “It was a great creative outlet, and it taught me how to share that with the world and inspire others to continue to create.” One of her most memorable projects was creating a bust of Edgar Allan Poe in her 3D design class, despite having no previous experience working with clay. It was featured in the 2023 Aims Student Art Show.
Danielle realized how powerful and healing the creative process was, not just for herself, but as a potential tool to help others. That began her orientation towards art therapy. “I figured I could combine my studio art major with my psychology major into art therapy. So I started taking that route, going into the psychology degree and exploring that avenue.”
A Calling to Help Others Heal
Through volunteering for on-campus events, Danielle met Janet Chase, Director of Student Life and that encounter led her to get more involved on campus. “Janet told me, ‘Well, if you’re going to attend all of our events, you might as well plan them.’” That invitation changed everything.
Danielle dove headfirst into student engagement, joining the Campus Activities Programming Board. That role soon led to an even bigger opportunity, serving as Student Government Association President for the 2022-2023 academic year. One of the things she focused on in student life was recovery advocacy. This made Danielle realize that she wanted to help college students and people on their healing journeys.
Danielle and Arty's Recovery Connection student leaders at the Aims Health and Wellness Center Groundbreaking.
During this time, Danielle co-founded Arty’s Recovery Connection (ARC). It’s a student-led support group for those in recovery and their allies. ARC meets weekly and offers varied activities focused on wellness, engagement, socialization and support. Danielle also spearheaded an effort to install designated areas around campus that distribute Narcan and Fentanyl test strips, potentially life-saving resources for students in need.
In 2022, Danielle was accepted into the Collegiate Recovery Leadership Academy (CRLA), a year-long fellowship program. In it, students implement a recovery-focused impact project on their campus. Participants also received advocacy training and a supportive cohort of peers from around the country. She was only one of 50 applicants selected in a nationwide competitive application process to receive this honor.
Danielle was inspired to launch one of her most impactful projects: The Aims Little Book of Recovery. “It was a student-led project aimed at reducing the stigma regarding addiction and recovery,” she explains. The book is a collection of personal stories, reflective poetry and expressive visual art from Aims students, staff and faculty around the theme of recovery and resilience. “It’s good to hear other people's stories and know you're not alone.” Danielle is proud that this effort endures, as work progresses on a second volume. “Sharing stories helps reduce the stigma,” she said. “It also empowers and inspires those still struggling.”
The book’s influence stretched far beyond Aims. Copies were shared with senators and even made their way to Canada through the CRLA. “That was probably my biggest accomplishment,” Danielle says proudly. “It wasn’t just my project but an entire Aims project. That was a beautiful thing.”
Danielle’s passion for advocacy for recovery and students continues. After she received her Associate's Degree in 2024, her positive energy is still present at Aims. Since then, Danielle has been an Aims employee in Counseling Services and Student Life. These roles allow her to grow as a steadfast mentor at Aims.
“I love working with students and getting the chance to see them grow. I love being able to help them, just like everyone at Aims helped me. It's a great feeling being able to give back.”
A Transformative Experience
Danielle’s time at Aims shaped her both academically and personally.
She was part of Aims2UNC, which made transferring to the University of Northern Colorado smoother. She said that the program “eased her anxiety” about making the move from a two-year community college to a four-year university.
Danielle has noticed an uptick in the workload in her UNC classes. Despite the challenge, she is excited about the depth of higher-level coursework that it provides. She is dedicated to completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in December 2025.
The foundation she built at Aims gave her tools and confidence to thrive. “When I first started at Aims, I was so timid and so shy. I barely talked to anyone,” she reflects. “But as I got more involved, I flourished. I learned how to be a leader. I learned how to inspire others. I learned how to inspire myself.”
In addition to helping people with addictions, Danielle has a long-term goal of obtaining a leadership role in higher education since her college experience is vital to her foundation.
“I do have aspirations of maybe becoming a college president or a dean of students,” she says with a smile. “I love helping students achieve their goals. It’s my turn to give back.”
