Ann Donnelly Hamilton joined the Small Nation team in 2021 as a consultant and project manager following 20 plus years in the higher education field.  Ann served as alumni director, campaign manager for the largest successful campaign in university’s history, and as a member of the President’s cabinet as the executive assistant at Ohio Northern University from 1999-2019.  Growing up in a small town, Ann followed Small Nation CEO and Founder, Jason Duff, as he built upon his passion and belief of building spaces, places and dreams for small towns and villages for more than a decade.  Her desire to homeschool her two children united with her own passion for small towns and storytelling abilities created the ideal synergistic relationship with Small Nation.

Prior to Ann’s career with Small Nation, she was the associate producer on a feature-length documentary, The Heart of an Ideal, working alongside award-winning producer and owner of Columbus-based firm, ThreadPath Media, Bob Dawson.  Ann published her first children’s book, If I Were a Bumblebee in 2021. Utilizing rhythm, brilliant illustrations of animals and nature, and upcycled mosaic art, we learn about a mother’s love for her child.  The publication, sold by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Target made the national public library platform, Beanstack’s, list of 1000 books to read to your child before kindergarten.

With degrees in English and Education from Ohio Northern University and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Dayton, Ann is passionate about lifelong learning and volunteers to teach anatomy and chemistry to 4^th and 5^th graders weekly at a Homeschool Cooperative Learning program in Dayton, Ohio.  She enjoys being active in her village as a member and secretary of the Ada Library Board and she was a longtime member of the local Kiwanis Club.  Ann chairs the fundraising committee for the annual Pride of Ada Fireworks and volunteers for her son’s baseball team. She has served and continues to serve as a Judge for Ohio’s Distinguished Young Women of Ohio program, a national program providing scholarships to young women and for the opportunity to compete at a national level.  Ann’s advice to others is to decide what you really want the most in life, whether it be career-based, family oriented, or a major bucket list goal…and go get it!