Jessica L. Dunlow

About Jessica L. Dunlow

I am a strategic advancement leader with 13+ years of experience in higher education. I focus on building alumni engagement infrastructures that drive belonging, volunteer leadership, and long-term institutional loyalty.As Associate Director, Affinity Engagement in the Penn State Alumni Association, I lead strategy and oversight for a comprehensive affinity portfolio, including alumni interest groups, the Black Alumni Reunion, and the FastStart mentoring program. I coach volunteer boards, evaluate engagement models, and help develop scalable programs that strengthen the pipeline from student experience to lifelong alumni engagement.My work sits at the intersection of strategy, inclusion, and advancement. In this role, I partner across university departments and division leadership to align affinity engagement with enterprise priorities, diversity initiatives, and philanthropic growth.I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD), and my research focuses on the transition from graduate to engaged alumnus. Specifically, my research examines how belonging, institutional trust, and identity formation influence long-term engagement and giving. I translate research into practice by designing evidence-informed engagement strategies that build sustainable volunteer leadership and measurable impact.Core Leadership Strengths• Portfolio-level strategy & program oversight• Volunteer board development & coaching• Inclusive engagement model design• Cross-functional collaboration & stakeholder alignment• Assessment, metrics & continuous improvement• Thought leadership in alumni relationsI also serve as Co-Chair of the Programming Committee for the Council of Alumni, Marketing, and Membership Professionals (CAMMP), contributing to national conversations about innovation in alumni engagement.I am focused on building engagement systems that cultivate leadership, deepen alumni identity, and position institutions for sustained growth.Let’s connect if you’re advancing strategy-driven alumni engagement.

Experience

1. Associate Director, Affinity Engagement

   Penn State Alumni Association

   Feb 2026 — Present · State College, PA, US

   The Associate Director, Affinity Engagement, is responsible for the strategy and development of programs for the Alumni Association’s network of alumni interest groups, the Black Alumni Reunion, theFastStart mentoring program, and more. The Associate Director will- Provide coaching, direction, and strategy to the Alumni Association’s network of alumni interest groups and their boards, volunteers, etc- Develop, plan, and execute the strategy and execution of programming for the FastStart mentorship program, a program committed to serving students from underrepresented backgrounds- Provide strategic direction and support with respect to volunteer engagementopportunities for our diverse community of alumni and friends- Evaluate existing programs and services and utilize results to determine strategies to best supportthe changing needs for volunteer opportunities- Lead, coach, and supervise volunteers to achieve goals- Collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders (including Universitydepartments and Division colleagues), with particular attention to those servingdiverse audiences.

Education

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Masters, English

  2009 — 2012

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Doctor of Education - EdD, Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

• East Carolina University

  BA, English and Business Administration

  2005 — 2009

• Appalachian State University

  Specialist, Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

Skills

• Blogging
• Customer Service
• Training
• Fundraising
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Google Drive
• Management
• Higher Education
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Microsoft Excel
• Teaching
• Public Speaking
• Microsoft Outlook
• Editing
• Leadership
• Event Planning
• Social Media
• Microsoft Word
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Office
• Sales