N.C. Central Names Lin Dawson as Athletics Director

DURHAM, NC -- North Carolina Central University introduced LinDawson as its new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at a press conferenceTuesday at the LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education Complex on the Durhamcampus. He will officially begin his appointment on June 1.

Lin Dawson

A native of Kinston, NC, Dawson most recently worked as Chief OperatingOfficer with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) locatedat Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Sept. 1999 -May 2000). As Chief Operating Officer, he was responsible for overseeing theexpansion of the NCAS, marketing its services to members, coordinating programevaluations and national fundraising efforts, assisting major athleticconferences and individual institutions to identify needs, and serving as anational spokesperson on social/sports-related issues.

Before his stint at NCAS, Dawson served as Associate Athletic Director forExternal Affairs/Football and Student-Athlete Development at North CarolinaState University in Raleigh for five years (Oct. 1994 - Sept. 1999). Duringthat time, he directed "ImPACK," a program focusing on the total developmentof student-athletes as it relates to academic, athletic, personal, career andleadership skills. N.C. State's ImPACK program was recognized with thedistinction of a "Program of Excellence" by the NCAA Division I-A AthleticDirectors in 1997, one of only four schools to receive the honor.

Since 1994, Dawson also operated Lin Dawson & Associates, working as a humanresources management consultant. In that time, he delivered training anddevelopment workshops to more than 30 universities and 50 high schools,completed a year-long diversity initiative with the National BasketballAssociation (NBA) and its 700 employees, and assisted Major League Soccermanagement and teams with diversity programs.

Prior to working at N.C. State, Dawson was the Associate Director of Trainingand Education at the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at NortheasternUniversity in Boston, Massachusetts (Sept. 1991 - Oct. 1994). He directed"Project TEAMWORK," a national initiative to reduce prejudice and violenceamong youth. In the three years under Dawson's leadership, the Project wontwo national awards (A World of Difference Institute's 1992 "Campus ofDifference Award" as the country's best campus-based anti-prejudice program,and the Peter F. Drucker Foundation's 1993 Award for Nonprofit Innovation). In June 1994, the White House named Project TEAMWORK as the country's bestconflict resolution program.

Dawson was a scholarship student-athlete at N.C. State University, starting attight end for the Wolfpack football team from 1977-1980. In May 1981, he wasdrafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the New England Patriots,where he was a first-string tight end for 10 seasons (1981-1990). Dawson, the1987 recipient of the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award, was a key player with theAmerican Football Conference Championship team of 1985 and participated inSuper Bowl XX in 1986. In addition, he served as team chaplain for six yearsand player representative for four years, leading the team through labor negotiations.

After his playing days, Dawson completed his undergraduate studies atNortheastern University, receiving a bachelor's degree in SpeechCommunications in 1989. He is currently completing a MBA degree.In 1997, Dawson returned to the gridiron as a Sideline Analyst for WPTF 680AM, providing commentary for broadcasts of N.C. State football games for two seasons.

An ordained minister, Dawson has received numerous honors, including Who's WhoAmong Black Americans, Northeastern University's Dean List and the BostonHerald School Forum Award (1993). He was also selected to serve as a judge inPresident Clinton's Volunteer Awards in 1994. Dawson was one of seven peoplechosen nationally.

Born June 24, 1959 in Norfolk, Virginia, Dawson is married (Margo) and hasthree children (Jamar, 13; Jelyse, 12; Jordan, 5).

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