Carol Dunn proudly and loyally served Cal State LA for 24 years, including the last 17 as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (1988-2005). Her experience spanned over three decades, where she helped lead the Golden Eagles to achieve some of the most recognized moments in department history.
Cal State LA intercollegiate teams made a combined 78 appearances in the NCAA postseason, including 12 different programs earning postseason berths. The Golden Eagles also claimed 33 individual national championships during her tenure. The women's track & field team finished national runners-up in the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Dunn did not just go through the motions on the job; she looked for ways to create a pathway for success for those who came behind her. Upon taking over as athletics director in the summer of 1988, Dunn made it a top priority to ensure gender equity in Cal State LA’s intercollegiate athletic program. She was known for her goal-oriented and proactive management style. Dunn developed a model compliance program and a strong academic advising program for student-athletes.
In addition, she created the Division’s first comprehensive community service program, which included all CSULA student-athletes and teams giving back to the local community. Fundraising was a key component of Cal State LA's success under Dunn, especially in athletic scholarships. During her tenure, overall fundraising increased 10-fold.
Nationally, she was a well-respected administrator and served on numerous NCAA committees, including a five-year term on the prestigious NCAA Council from 1995-2000. Dunn also assumed roles as the chair of the NCAA Division II Amateurism Project Team and the NCAA Initial Eligibility Waiver Committee. At the conference level, she served as the President of the CCAA in the 1992-93 and 1998-99 academic years. She was also a chair of the CCAA legislative committee and a member of the CCAA Executive Council Board of Directors.
In 2001, Dunn was honored by her peers in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as one of the Athletic Directors of the Year. In 1991, she was named to the list of “2,000 Notable American Women,” and in 1999, she earned Cal State LA's Distinguished Woman Award.