Heather Hahn Sullivan, executive director of the Chesterton-based Dunes Learning Center, is the recipient of the 2025 ANCA Nature Center Leadership Award.

The Association of Nature Center Administrators award recognizes Sullivan’s achievements in the nature center profession.

Sullivan’s career in the nature center profession spans over two decades. She attended Dunes Learning Center programs as a high school student. Sullivan served in internship roles at the center and the Cincinnati Nature Center, where she was later hired as volunteer and special events manager.

Sullivan took on leadership positions at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. In 2018, Sullivan became the development and marketing director of Dunes Learning Center. She assumed the role of executive director in 2022.

Sullivan has led the organization to reach a record 15,000 students last year. She helped craft the center’s 2024-2030 Vision & Strategy Plan. Sullivan created a cooperative agreement with Indiana Dunes National Park and the National Park Service and developed an endowment to support a fellowship.

“Her drive to explore partnerships has attracted new audiences, increasing the number of people who treasure our natural world,” said Bill Higbie, Porter County Community Foundation president and CEO, in a press release. “Children and adults alike benefit from Heather's creative vision that builds upon our unique landscape along the south shore of Lake Michigan.”

January Miller, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park vice president of education, championed Sullivan’s nomination.

“She is a tireless advocate not only for environmental causes of her region, but of the students, teachers and community members that call the Great Lakes home … In a field saturated with passionate, innovative and courageous leaders, Heather stands out,” Miller said.

Sullivan has served on the ANCA marketing committee since 2022 and as a mentor in the ANCA Mentor Program. She is past board president for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northwest Indiana Chapter.

“Heather exemplifies what it means to be a leader in our field — strategic, collaborative and deeply committed to impact,” Jen Levy, ANCA executive director, said. “Her work at Dunes Learning Center is not only impressive in scale and vision but also generous in spirit, as she consistently shares her expertise to elevate the entire profession.”

ANCA will recognize Sullivan at its 2025 Annual Summit Aug. 27.