Dahnika grew up in Topeka, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State University (go Cats!) where she received her Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences pre-medicine. After graduating Dahnika joined the Peace Corps and spent 2 years in Moldova- a tiny, but lovely country in Eastern Europe. After 2 years in Moldova, she moved back to Kansas to attend nursing school. After graduating from KU School of Nursing she joined a family doctors office in Lawrence, KS. She got married to Hazen Short and the two eventually had baby Matilda (Tilly). Dahnika is now back in school at KU School of Law in Lawrence.

Dahnika doesn't have a ton of time for hobbies now with law school and the baby, but she still enjoys playing soccer, traveling, wine, eating, reading, and podcasts, and being outdoors. Her favorite place for vacation is anywhere (she really wants to go to southeast Asia), but her family's cabin in Westcliffe, CO is always special. Dahnika's favorite book is anything by David Sedaris, favorite movie is Fried Green Tomatoes (or Toy Story), and favorite recent TV show was the Chernobyl miniseries on HBO. She would sing "Bennie and the Jets" at karoake night, and her favorite food is a surf and turf combination (steak, raw oysters, scallops, etc. yumm). 

Dahnika, Hazen, and Tilly in Puerto Rico this summer.