Wake Forest Athletics
Dunn Tabbed Sr. Associate AD, Student-Athlete Development, Administration & Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer
6/14/2022 9:00:00 AM | General
Arin Dunn comes to Wake Forest with over a decade of experience in intercollegiate athletics and has built great relationships with student-athletes, coaches and staff throughout his career.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Arin Dunn, a veteran collegiate athletics leader who has created great relationships with student-athletes, coaches and staff throughout his career, has been named Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Development and Administration, Director of Athletics John Currie announced today. As a member of the Demon Deacons' senior staff, Dunn will also serve as Wake Athletics' chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and lead student-athlete focused efforts in Name Image and Likeness (NIL) and career development.
Dunn brings over 12 years of experience in college athletics with him to Winston-Salem, having most recently spent the last three years at the University of Texas in the role of Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development and the 4EVER TEXAS Program. Working with the Longhorns, he oversaw all aspects of student-athlete development, programming, support and assessing resources for over 500 student-athletes.
In 2020, Dunn developed and launched Texas' first-ever comprehensive student-athlete development program, 4EVER TEXAS includes a four-year curriculum and cohort model as well as best in class financial literacy initiative called Financially Empowered. Dunn additionally spearheaded the LEVERAGE program within the model, providing meaningful programming and resources for student-athletes around name image and likeness. His facilitation of TEXAS TAILORED professional career development events, and personal development programming including a partnership with Texas Career Engagement Office, T-Association, and Longhorn Foundation, proved monumental in holistic development of student-athletes at UT.
Dunn represented the University of Texas and its athletics department on the Big 12 Diversity and Inclusion Designee Committee (ADID) while serving as the chair of the Student-Athlete Relations Committee. The latter holds a responsibility of overseeing all student-athlete DEI initiatives and resources.
Before his arrival at Austin, Dunn worked as the Director of Student-Athlete Development in the athletics department at Kansas State University from 2017-2019. During those two years, he led the K-State Athletics Leadership Academy, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C), P.A.L.S. Mentorship Program, Career Cats Professional Development program and Wildcat Wednesdays Development program for football. In addition to his Director Role, he also oversaw all Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts and initiatives for the athletics department.
During his time in Manhattan, Dunn partnered with K-State faculty/staff as well as faculty from Texas to put together a program for student-athletes on financial literacy. They received the Innovations in Research Grant Award in 2018, which is given to top research initiatives, for their work.
In 2017, Dunn worked with the Administration to create the first-ever athletics department-wide Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan. This included signature events such as the first ever Unity Walk, KUNITE and the inaugural D&I game for men's basketball and Unity Match for soccer. Prior to his director role, Dunn was an academic counselor for the Kansas State football program, developing plans of academic success and graduation for over 60 football players.
From 2010-16, Dunn contributed in several positions at his alma mater, Colorado State University.
Getting an initial start as a Facilities Scheduler in October 2010, he assisted with overall facility scheduling of a brand new 175,000 square-foot facility and served as a primary contact for scheduling patrons who inquired about facility reservations. Just over a year later, Dunn moved into a Facilities Coordinator position with the campus recreation and student-affairs department. Over the course of a year and a half, he recruited and supervised more than 100 student employees to ensure the facility was monitored in an adequate manner.
Dunn ultimately moved on to become an Academic Coordinator with a handful of Colorado State's teams, including football, men's basketball, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's cross country. Two of his major projects involved executing annual 'Backpack to Briefcases' and 'Senior Mixer' events, which provided junior and senior student-athletes opportunities to network with over 200 employers. Dunn also partnered with the Black African American Cultural Center to coordinate the Lt. John Moseley Leadership Program that served as a transformation mentorship program for student-athletes.
A native of Broomfield, Colorado, Dunn obtained a B.A. in Communication Studies with a Minor in Business Administration at Colorado State in 2010, where he was also a student-athlete on the men's basketball team. He went on to receive a M.S. in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2015.
Dunn currently is an active member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He was selected to participate in the NCAA Charles Whitcomb Leadership institute in 2018, NCAA Effective Facilitator Workshop, and was a facilitator in the 2021 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
Dunn will be joined by his wife, Katie, and their three-month-old son, Reece.
What They Are Saying...
Arin Dunn – Sr. Associate AD, Student-Athlete Development & Administration:
Dunn brings over 12 years of experience in college athletics with him to Winston-Salem, having most recently spent the last three years at the University of Texas in the role of Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development and the 4EVER TEXAS Program. Working with the Longhorns, he oversaw all aspects of student-athlete development, programming, support and assessing resources for over 500 student-athletes.
In 2020, Dunn developed and launched Texas' first-ever comprehensive student-athlete development program, 4EVER TEXAS includes a four-year curriculum and cohort model as well as best in class financial literacy initiative called Financially Empowered. Dunn additionally spearheaded the LEVERAGE program within the model, providing meaningful programming and resources for student-athletes around name image and likeness. His facilitation of TEXAS TAILORED professional career development events, and personal development programming including a partnership with Texas Career Engagement Office, T-Association, and Longhorn Foundation, proved monumental in holistic development of student-athletes at UT.
Dunn represented the University of Texas and its athletics department on the Big 12 Diversity and Inclusion Designee Committee (ADID) while serving as the chair of the Student-Athlete Relations Committee. The latter holds a responsibility of overseeing all student-athlete DEI initiatives and resources.
Before his arrival at Austin, Dunn worked as the Director of Student-Athlete Development in the athletics department at Kansas State University from 2017-2019. During those two years, he led the K-State Athletics Leadership Academy, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C), P.A.L.S. Mentorship Program, Career Cats Professional Development program and Wildcat Wednesdays Development program for football. In addition to his Director Role, he also oversaw all Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts and initiatives for the athletics department.
During his time in Manhattan, Dunn partnered with K-State faculty/staff as well as faculty from Texas to put together a program for student-athletes on financial literacy. They received the Innovations in Research Grant Award in 2018, which is given to top research initiatives, for their work.
In 2017, Dunn worked with the Administration to create the first-ever athletics department-wide Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan. This included signature events such as the first ever Unity Walk, KUNITE and the inaugural D&I game for men's basketball and Unity Match for soccer. Prior to his director role, Dunn was an academic counselor for the Kansas State football program, developing plans of academic success and graduation for over 60 football players.
From 2010-16, Dunn contributed in several positions at his alma mater, Colorado State University.
Getting an initial start as a Facilities Scheduler in October 2010, he assisted with overall facility scheduling of a brand new 175,000 square-foot facility and served as a primary contact for scheduling patrons who inquired about facility reservations. Just over a year later, Dunn moved into a Facilities Coordinator position with the campus recreation and student-affairs department. Over the course of a year and a half, he recruited and supervised more than 100 student employees to ensure the facility was monitored in an adequate manner.
Dunn ultimately moved on to become an Academic Coordinator with a handful of Colorado State's teams, including football, men's basketball, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's cross country. Two of his major projects involved executing annual 'Backpack to Briefcases' and 'Senior Mixer' events, which provided junior and senior student-athletes opportunities to network with over 200 employers. Dunn also partnered with the Black African American Cultural Center to coordinate the Lt. John Moseley Leadership Program that served as a transformation mentorship program for student-athletes.
A native of Broomfield, Colorado, Dunn obtained a B.A. in Communication Studies with a Minor in Business Administration at Colorado State in 2010, where he was also a student-athlete on the men's basketball team. He went on to receive a M.S. in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2015.
Dunn currently is an active member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He was selected to participate in the NCAA Charles Whitcomb Leadership institute in 2018, NCAA Effective Facilitator Workshop, and was a facilitator in the 2021 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
Dunn will be joined by his wife, Katie, and their three-month-old son, Reece.
What They Are Saying...
Arin Dunn – Sr. Associate AD, Student-Athlete Development & Administration:
- "Today is an exciting day for our family. We are absolutely thrilled and honored to join Wake Forest University and the Winston-Salem community. I am so appreciative of the opportunity that John Currie and Lindsey Babcock have given me to join his senior leadership team and I look forward to working with the administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and the campus community at Wake Forest. Together we will strive each day to ensure we are providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
"I would like to sincerely thank the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Athletics. I am very thankful for my time at UT and truly appreciate the opportunity I had to work with the phenomenal athletics and campus communities."
- "We are thrilled to welcome Arin Dunn as a new member of our senior staff at Wake Forest. He brings proven relationship building skills and has a track record of helping student-athletes reach their full potential. His background as a student-athlete and in multiple programs will make him an excellent addition to our team of sport administrators as well."
- "I have truly enjoyed working with Arin. He is not only a talented professional, he's a great person. His passion for working with student-athletes and building quality relationships truly stands out. I believe he has a very bright future in our industry and we are wishing him [and Katie] the very best."
- "Wake Forest University has made a tremendous hire by adding Arin Dunn as Sr. Associate AD for Student-Athlete Development and Administration, and Chief DEI Officer. He will take these positions to new heights but he brings so much more to the community and how much he cares about people! All people. I've been fortunate enough to watch him from the start of his career until today and I remain impressed. I am certain he will do an outstanding job on all levels."
- "Wake Forest is very fortunate to have the addition of Arin Dunn on their staff. He is a servant leader with a vision to shape the lives of student-athletes at the highest level."
- "Wake Forest has landed a rising start within intercollegiate athletics in Arin Dunn. He brings a wealth of experiences, deep understandings and strategic leadership skills to effectively advance the efforts of inclusive excellence across the athletics department."
- "Arin Dunn is a commensurate professional who I have had the pleasure of knowing for over a decade. Arin's work ethic, impeccable character, and his visionary leadership is something I have admired for quite some time. His intentions are always pure and the impact he will have on the ACC Family will be everlasting and something they will cherish for years to come. Arin will certainly strengthen and enhance everything he touches at Wake Forest, and I am eager to see the impact he will make on the student-athletes, coaches, and external stakeholders in Winston Salem."
- "Arin Dunn is a conscientious leader who genuinely cares about the student-athletes and their progress and success during their time as student-athletes as after graduation. Wake Forest University athletics has hired a dedicated individual who will tirelessly provide resources for the athletics department, who will connect with the campus community, and provide opportunities where student-athletes will advance academically and holistically."
- "I am so excited to congratulate Arin Dunn on his new position as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Administration and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Wake Forest University! I have known Arin since he was a small child and have watched him grow into the amazing professional and person that he is today! As a student and professional at Colorado State University, Arin was a great team member, leader, student, mentor, and friend. As a professional, he always led with integrity, passion, accountability, and care. Students, university and athletic department staff, coaches, and faculty appreciated and respected him. He believes in supporting student-athletes holistically and seeks partnerships and collaborations with university units and the community to engage and support the student-athletes, coaches, and the athletic department staff.
"Wake Forest University will not be disappointed with Arin! He will bring vision, enthusiasm, a great work ethic, creativity, a wonderful sense of humor, and incredible skill sets that educate and engage student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, athletic and university staff . You have a very special person joining your community that will make a positive difference and impact your community."
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