Alumni Spotlight - Dana Donati

Dana Donati (Breaking Down Barriers): As an Ambridge High School graduate, I had no idea that one of the best aviation schools was located in the county where I attended high school. Enrolling at CCBC as a Professional Pilot student was one of the best decisions I made as a young adult. The people I met and the experiences I had were truly life changing.

My degree gave me the foundation to continue my education at Robert Morris University and take my career from flight instructor to airline pilot. Later, I made the decision to step away from the flight deck and was welcomed to CCBC as Dean of the School of Aviation, an opportunity I never imagined for myself.

That decision opened the door to a new chapter in aviation education and the opportunity to learn from some of the industry's top leaders. I've had an incredibly rewarding career, and the resilience and perseverance that have carried me throughout my journey can be traced back to my time at CCBC.

Now, as CEO of Breaking Down Barriers, I have the opportunity to introduce aviation to young adults who may have never imagined a career in this industry was possible for them. I hope to give them the same kind of opportunity that CCBC gave me and to discover a path they may not have known existed and build a future they never thought possible.