About Daniel

What makes him qualified to speak about ADHD?

​

Daniel is an environmental scientist who has worked as a consultant for public and private clients for 30 years. Diagnosed as an adult, he realized that his ADHD has been both a challenge and an asset that significantly influenced his career. He survived college, a masters degree, and completion of a doctorate in botany despite the challenges posed by ADHD. As he moved through his academic career, progress became harder to achieve as structure decreased and education became more depend on one's executive function to operate independently. Now, as a biologist, he views the world, including ADHD and human brain function, through a lens of genetics, ecology, and evolutionary biology. 

​

While ADHD is recognized for impediments to executive function, time management, and achievement of goals, it also provides unique attributes such as hyperfocus, fast learning, curiosity, and willingness to take on new projects. As accomplished public speaker through Toastmasters and at technical conferences, he uses humor and real-life experiences to explain causes and symptoms of ADHD and offers practical suggestions for managing ADHD and learning new executive function skills. His experience is applicable to students and professionals, and he offers ways to improve student retention, success, and graduation, and ways for employees and employers to improve the performance and contribution of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.