Deven Daehn, MS, serves as the Associate Vice President for Community Engagement at Heartland Whole Health Institute.

A mission-driven leader, Daehn has held various roles within nonprofit organizations in the Northwest Arkansas region. A native Arkansan, she has dedicated her entire public health career to serving her community. Prior to her current role, Daehn served as Executive Director of the American Heart Association. In her various roles at the association, Daehn helped build powerful community partnerships and trailblaze innovative public health strategies.

Daehn earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health science, specializing in community health, from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her outstanding leadership and strategic thinking. Notably, in 2019, she received the prestigious national Dot Connector award from the American Heart Association –an award reserved for one individual who exemplifies the mission of the organization. This distinguished honor was given in recognition of her advocacy efforts to improve hydration in Arkansas schools, resulting in the state becoming the first to implement policies ensuring students have adequate access to water through water bottle filling stations in public schools. Daehn’s endeavors have consistently led to sustainable community impact and policy change including healthier vending practices and cardiac emergency preparedness. She has received numerous awards for outstanding achievement in community health and innovation, as well as the National Cass Wheeler Integration Award for collaboration.

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