Meet Dae'Shawn Nixon, Director of the Delaware State Chamber Foundation

The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome Dae'Shawn Nixon as director of the Delaware State Chamber Foundation, our newly rebranded 501(c)(3) affiliate. In this role, Dae'Shawn will lead research, programs, and initiatives that strengthen Delaware’s economic climate and advance prosperity for all Delawareans. 

You’re a transplant! Where are you from? And what brought you to the First State?
I relocated from Las Vegas, NV to attend Temple University before falling in love with Delaware.

You have quite a diverse professional background. What most excites you about this position and how do you hope to make an impact through the Foundation’s work?
What excites me most is the opportunity to connect research, policy, and people in ways that move Delaware forward. The Foundation sits at a unique intersection of business, policy, and community, and that’s where I’ve always felt most energized. I see real potential to translate data into decisions that improve economic opportunity across the state. My goal is to ensure that our research not only measures competitiveness but also informs solutions that make Delaware a place where every community can thrive.
 
Do you have a favorite quote or personal mantra?
A quote from Fredrick Douglass “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
 
​If you could have dinner with any three people (dead or alive), who would they be?
Lawrence Summers, Stacey Abrams, and Lerone Bennett Jr.
 
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Reading and collecting books or catching a live ball game.
 
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
People are often surprised to learn that I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and spent time in foster care, including periods of housing instability. Those early experiences gave me an understanding of what it means to navigate systems that don’t always work for everyone. They taught me that opportunity isn’t just about access; it’s about design, accountability, and the courage to imagine something better. That perspective shapes how I approach my work today. Whether leading research or engaging across sectors, I view every project as an opportunity to build systems that expand possibilities—and to make Delaware a place where every person, regardless of their starting point, can see themselves in the state’s progress.  
 
What podcast or playlist is currently on repeat for you?
Philosophize This!, Hans Zimmer, or Nicholas Britell’s Succession soundtrack.

---

WELCOME DAE'SHAWN TO THE STATE CHAMBER