Dana Anderson graduated from Punahou School in 1959 and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree from Boston University.

After eight years as a professor of English at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, she moved to Martha’s Vineyard. There she co-opened a bookstore, Bickerton and Ripley Books, in Edgartown which thrived for 26 years before being sold.

She returned in 2008 to Hawaiʻi and Nuʻuanu, immediately becoming involved in the community. Passionate about the wellbeing and safety of underserved youth, she was a founding member of Residential Youth Services and Empowerment. She was also a board member of National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Honolulu for nearly 20 years and enjoyed long-time membership and current service in the vestry of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church.

When she passed away on December 21, 2015, she left a bequest to establish the Dana K. Anderson ’59 Endowed Scholarship Fund with a preference for Academy students interested in the performing arts, including music and theatre. It was Dana’s wish to celebrate and build interest in critical and magical thinking.