MEET DANA

Dana and Neil Glasstein in front of a Navy Submarine at Pearl Harbor

Dana is a 25-year Mequon resident and native of Wisconsin. She grew up in Shorewood, and was raised in a family that valued diversity and encouraged her to learn about and explore other cultures. After graduating from Shorewood High School, she traveled through Asia where her passion for the study of language and world cultures grew.

After completing her undergraduate degree in East Asian Languages, she spent time in Japan where she taught English and did freelance translating before moving to Hawaii where she assisted international visitors in the tourism industry.

Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, Dana met Neil, an active-duty U.S. Navy submarine officer who was stationed at Pearl Harbor. During their five years in Hawaii, they married, had their first son, and experienced their first separation due to deployment.

Dana teaching in a classroom

In 1999, Dana and Neil returned to Wisconsin, and their second son was born. In the ensuing years as a Navy reservist, Neil was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, separated from family for more than two years. During that time, Dana completed her graduate degree in English for TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language), and began teaching at Waukesha County Technical College in 2007.

While her boys were in school, Dana was an active volunteer in the Mequon-Thiensville School District, and served as President of the Mequon-Thiensville Orchestra Parents organization for three years. She was a founding member of the Adult Literacy Center of Ozaukee County’s Board of Directors and remains an active volunteer with this important community organization that helps adults improve their literacy skills.

Dana with her family

Today, Dana continues to teach in the Wisconsin Technical College System, working with English language learners and students entering Healthcare occupations. She served on the state committee to update the ESL curriculum to prepare students for post-secondary education and transition to the workforce. She is a long-time member and volunteer with the Ozaukee County Democratic Party.

Dana is very proud of her two sons - one a recent UWM graduate, and the other an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer.

When not teaching and advocating for her students, Dana enjoys spending time with family and their two cats, hiking Wisconsin’s many trails, traveling, and studying languages.