Dunes Learning Center executive director elevates nonprofit and profession
From a high school student exploring the outdoors to a nationally recognized leader in environmental education, Heather Hahn Sullivan’s journey has come full circle.
The Association of Nature Center Administrators named Sullivan, executive director of Dunes Learning Center in Chesterton, the recipient of the 2025 ANCA Nature Center Leadership Award. This honor celebrates her transformative leadership and the contributions she has made to the nature center profession.
Reflecting on her journey, Sullivan shared how it is fitting she found her way back to Chesterton and to the center, especially.
“I actually came here as a high school student during the very first year Dunes Learning Center opened,” she said. “That experience sparked my love for outdoor education.”
After initially pursuing a career in teaching, Sullivan returned to Dunes Learning Center as an intern, where she discovered her passion for environmental education.
“It was so much more fun and interesting than classroom teaching,” she said.
This realization set her on a path through various roles in museums, nature centers and nonprofits across the country before returning to Northwest Indiana in 2018. She served as the center’s development and marketing director before assuming the role of executive director in 2022.
Regardless of the context, Sullivan’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering her team.
“Leadership is recognizing what your team needs and helping everyone do their best work,” she said. “You can’t be a thinker by yourself. It takes so many people to deliver our mission, and my job as a leader is to empower them to make the whole thing run.”
Her colleagues and peers have taken notice of her ability to inspire and guide. Sullivan credits mentors like the center’s former executive director Geof Benson, who taught her the importance of flexibility and learning from mistakes. She also cites Amy Miller — who served as vice president for institutional advancement at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia — as someone who leads with compassion.
“I’m a recovering perfectionist,” Sullivan said. “Geof (Benson) helped me understand that it’s OK if things aren’t perfect the first time. You pick it up, dust it off, and do it better next time.”
Receiving the Leadership Award is a deeply meaningful milestone for Sullivan. She associates the organization and its members with consummate professionalism.
“It’s such an honor,” she said. “I have immense respect for ANCA and the peers in this organization. This recognition is a testament to the growth of Dunes Learning Center and the incredible work of our team. We’ve achieved new heights in the number of people we serve, the strength of our programs and the recognition we’ve received.”
Under Sullivan’s leadership, the center has accomplished several initiatives, including securing a 10-year service agreement, purchasing staff housing for the first time, and completing a new vision and strategy plan. During the challenges of the pandemic, Sullivan and her team pivoted to innovative solutions like online programs, a “summer camp in a box” and engaging video series to keep environmental education accessible.
“We’re a staff of really creative people,” she said. “It was fun to see what we could do during such a strange time.”
Looking ahead, Sullivan is focused on developing a master plan for the center’s campus in collaboration with the National Park Service.
“We’re thinking about our physical environment and what new buildings might look like to support programmatic growth,” she said.
Sullivan’s dedication to professional development has also shaped her leadership style. Experiences like Leadership Northwest Indiana and professional development programs through the Porter County Community Foundation have provided valuable opportunities to connect with peers and learn from real-world examples. With respect to the latter organization, the foundation’s president and CEO, Bill Higbie, sings Sullivan’s praises.
“Heather exhibits many admirable traits in her leadership,” he said. “The ones that stand out to me are the calm and thoughtful way she approaches making decisions. Heather gathers information from a variety of sources and people so she can reach the best conclusion for the benefit of the organization and those they serve.”
Speaking of service, Sullivan has dedicated her time and talents to the ANCA Marketing Committee since 2022. She’s mentored professionals through the ANCA Mentor Program, in addition to attending five ANCA Summits. She’s also the immediate past president on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northwest Indiana Chapter, and still serves as a board member. •
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