CEO/President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee

Danielle Whitworth Barnes joined as CEO/President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee in December 2023. She has a lifelong passion for building strong communities and building leaders, especially women, girls, and the disadvantaged.

Prior to joining Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, she led the U.S. Human Services practice for Ernst & Young, counseling state and local governments across the country and creating innovative and practical solutions and programs for families and vulnerable individuals.

Danielle also served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet as the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Under two different Governors, she led the operations and strategic direction of the state’s second largest agency responsible for aiding over 2 million vulnerable Tennesseans. Operating a budget of over $2.1 billion, providing leadership to more than 4,000 employees, and managing 113 facilities, Danielle maintained a reputation for driving for strong results for individuals, families and communities through meaningful work outcomes and community partnerships. Under her leadership, the Department increased the number of collaborative partnerships with emphasis on meeting the essential needs of families, enhancing the customer experience, modernizing technology, reducing administrative process, increasing access to services in rural communities, and connecting DHS customers to sustainable employment opportunities. As Commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic, she ushered in innovative programs and processes, such as P-EBT, Pandemic Cash Assistance, Pandemic Child Care, and others to quickly respond to the needs of Tennesseans.

Prior to her appointment at DHS, she served as Deputy Commissioner & General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Human Resources. There she co-authored and implemented the Tennessee Excellence and Accountability (T.E.A.M.) Act which overhauled the state’s civil service practices, created the state’s mediation program, revamped the State’s performance management processes, and enacted pay for performance for state employees. Before her 16-year tenure in public service, she practiced with a private law firm.

Danielle earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Danielle is active in a variety of organizations, including, Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Think TN, Tennessee State Museum, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, the Tennessee Adoption Project, and MLB Music City (Nashville Stars). She and her husband live with their 2 children in Brentwood, TN.