Office of the President
Biography
Dr. John M. Dunn became the eighth president of Western Michigan University on July 1, 2007. He was appointed by the WMU Board of Trustees following a nationwide search.
Prior to coming to WMU, President Dunn served as interim chancellor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Before accepting that appointment, he held the position of provost and vice chancellor at SIUC.
An educator for more than 30 years, Dr. Dunn was dean of the University of Utah’s College of Health before moving to SIUC, holding that post from 1995 to 2002. Before that, he was at Oregon State University for 20 years, last serving as associate provost there. His earlier positions at Oregon State included assistant dean of Health and Human Performance, chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and director of the university’s Special Physical and Motor Fitness Clinic.
Internationally known for his research and writing about the long-term health of individuals with disabilities, Dr. Dunn is the author of more than 50 professional papers and book chapters. He is a past president of the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; past editor of Quest, a professional publication for kinesiology scholars; and president of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Since moving to Michigan, President Dunn has been actively engaged with state and community efforts that focus on quality-of-life issues and enhancing economic development. By appointment of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, he represents the University and West Michigan as a member of the Michigan Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board. He also is a member of the boards of the Bronson Healthcare Group, First National Bank, Southwest Michigan First and the WMU Foundation as well as the governing boards of both the Greater Kalamazoo Area United Way and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.
Dr. Dunn, who began his teaching at the University of Connecticut in 1972, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Illinois University in 1967 and 1969, respectively. He earned his doctoral degree from Brigham Young University in 1972.
President Dunn and his wife, Linda, reside in Kalamazoo in the president’s official residence. They are the proud parents of three children, Matthew (married to Lesley), Michael and Kerry.
John M. Dunn
President
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