Dane Rivas-Koehl

At IAVA:  Dane joined IAVA in July 2025 as a Research Fellow, where he leads the development of surveys and analyzes findings to strengthen the organization’s evidence base and amplify the voices of veterans.

Professional Background: Since beginning his graduate studies, Dane has built a career as a mixed-methods researcher focused on LGBTQ+ mental health, resilience, and structural inequality. He has served as a Research Translation Consultant at Child Trends, where he created accessible, evidence-based resources for policymakers and practitioners, and as an Adjunct Researcher at the RAND Corporation, where he contributed to projects integrating the Women, Peace, and Security Act into military practices. Dane has also managed a nationwide study on LGBTQ+ farmers and worked extensively on research translation.

More about Dane: Originally from Texas, Dane is completing his Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned his master’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications from Texas Tech University. His research explores how structural factors, like state-level policies, influence the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Outside of work, Dane enjoys traveling with his partner, Matthew, designing graphics, watching anime, and spending time with his two dogs, Jayce and Louis.

Ask Dane about: LGBTQ+ mental health and resilience, survey design and analysis, or the best anime to binge.