Danielle Honeycutt was born in Louisiana and spent the majority of her childhood there, but her journey has taken her through Texas, Colorado and New York as well. After earning a bachelor's degree in business marketing, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. More recently, she earned a master's degree in French linguistics and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in historical and cultural textiles and dress at Louisiana State University where she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi last year.

During her undergraduate studies she minored in French and participated in two study abroad exchanges to Barcelonette and Le Puy en Velay in France. Upon completion of an accelerated merchandising program at FIT, she was recruited by Neiman Marcus and relocated to Dallas, Texas to train in their Executive Leadership Program. She returned to Louisiana in 2009 and was chosen by Rotary International to represent the state in Lyon, France during a one-month professional exchange program.

Danielle met her husband Corey on a trip to France and they have two children, Evangeline and Jules, who attend a French immersion elementary school.

Let's get to know Danielle!

What does Phi Kappa Phi mean to you?
A space for students and professionals to celebrate their hard-earned academic achievements. A platform to connect with scholars around the country. I saw joining Phi Kappa Phi as a way to renew my commitment to giving back to my community and becoming more involved in important service projects.

What is something that makes you feel like a kid again?
Road Trips - the excitement of impending adventure, car windows down taking in the changing landscapes, the smell of a foreign place, the memories made.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
Your word is your bond. Keep your commitments. Showing up is half the battle.

What’s your favorite sports team?
Are fashion shows considered a sport? I don't follow sports closely but the two I enjoy watching in-person are LSU Women's Gymnastics and LSU Women's Basketball.

How do you stay motivated?
By reminding myself that the journey is just as important as the final goal. Taking it one step at a time and seeking the lesson in each day, not fixating on the future.

What is your favorite meal to cook?
My husband and I both share cooking duties. With young children, healthy eating is important to us. He brings a delicious Creole flair to our kitchen. I would put his gumbo up against the best New Orleans' chefs. My cooking is more Southern comfort food, traditional dishes that I grew up seeing my grandparents prepare, chicken and rice, potatoes, and greens. 

What advice would you give your past self?
The moments matter. Don't squander them. Say yes more than you say no. Do one thing each day that brings you joy.

Who was your role model growing up?
My grandmother, Rebecca, who at 79 years young has yet to pause her pursuit of learning, was an invaluable inspiration. After raising children, she fulfilled her dream of attending college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree alongside her daughter, my aunt, eventually obtaining her Master’s + 30. Anytime I needed a reminder that age does not define a woman’s ability to learn or accomplish, she was always there. She was the trailblazer, I just follow with pride the path that was already laid for me, the one that she forged.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
Bob Marley. The one person who I feel was able to convey the most important universal truth (love) through one of the most meaningful mediums (music).

What do you enjoy most about the world of fashion?
Fashion sometimes gets labeled as a "shallow" or "trivial" academic pursuit. Yet we cloth our bodies every single day, making conscious (or sometimes subconscious) choices about how we will present ourselves to the world. I remember how validated I felt when I first read that scholars have found, throughout every culture, decorating the body is an essential human practice (Tortola & Marcketti, 2021). This has been seen among every civilization, past and present. Exploring the social and psychological aspects of dress is my passion. I enjoy the evolutionary nature of dress practices and how they can be such a powerful form of self-expression.

To learn more about Danielle and connect, visit her profile within our online member community, here.

Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to engagement@phikappaphi.org and be sure to include basic information for the nomination.