Donnell Probst

Executive Director, National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE)

Donnell Probst is the Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), the leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing media literacy education in the United States. Since joining NAMLE in 2014, she has been part of the organization’s evolution from a small, volunteer-driven network to a nationally recognized leader working across education, media, and technology sectors to build partnerships that are grounded in the belief that fostering critical thinking and responsible media engagement is a shared responsibility. Before joining NAMLE, Donnell spent nearly a decade working as a special education advocate and parent educator throughout eastern Missouri, serving as staff, volunteer, and advisor to organizations including the St. Louis Special School District and Missouri’s Parent Training Information Center. Inspired by her experience as the parent of a young adult with a disability, her advocacy focused on ensuring equity, access, and inclusion for families navigating educational systems. She later brought this commitment to her work as a community college librarian and as a faculty associate at Arizona State University, where she taught digital media literacy to students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.