Not many students love sending and checking their emails all day, everyday. But, Colorado Mesa University’s Director of Media Relations is one who is constantly on email. Dana Nunn has been the director of media relations for 20 years, but is walking out the door toward retirement.
Nunn’s career with CMU didn’t even begin at CMU. Instead, she started with a job at the Daily Sentinel, reporting on education in the area for 12 years. Utech, now WCCC, and Mesa State were on her radar while working at the Sentinel.
“The philosophy and goals at Utech spoke to my heart,” Nunn said. “Even while I was working at the Sentinel I was keeping my eye open. An opening came up for someone to do marketing, job placement and internship. So, I applied for the job and worked there for eight years.”
During her stint at Utech, Tim Foster became the president of Mesa State and sought out Nunn in hopes of temporarily replacing the schools’ media person. Nunn agreed and ended up working for 12 years in that temporary seat.
“I have spent 20 years either on this campus or on the bishop campus,” Nunn said. “It is as good as it gets. My favorite day of the year is the first day of the Fall semester. I love the energy of all the new students and walking around seeing the Freshmen’s saucer-wide eyes. I really enjoy watching students go from that wide-eyed Freshman to graduates. That is part of the job that you don’t get in any other environment.”
Nunn has worked with several students and numerous organizations and clubs as they went through their college careers. She has seen individual students making progress through their lives while the college itself has evolved over the years.
Joining during the Foster presidency, Nunn has been present to see the college go through growth under this regime. Seeing the college go from Mesa State to Colorado Mesa University, several buildings erected and the growth of the school made Nunn a sentry given the chance to watch it grow and evolve, giving her the opportunity to see a culture under construction that she enjoys and hopes to see live into the future.
“I know it sounds cliché, but I hope Mesa continues to be student focused.”
“I hope it continues to have small class sizes, continues to value liberal arts and to continue being a teaching institution rather than a research institution,” Nunn said.
Nunn has also praised and counts herself lucky to have been a part of the school during Foster’s presidency. The principles that Foster promotes and commits to the college resound positively with Nunn and she hopes that the college and Foster’s administration will continue to work these principles and foster a community that values these core concepts.
“Foster has made my job easy,” Nunn said. “It isn’t that hard to be the media person when you have a president that steps up, takes responsibility no matter who was at fault, apologizes for it and makes sure it doesn’t happen again. It is honest and sincere while demonstrating integrity. I would hate to see that change, and it won’t while he is here.”
These morals and principles that the college follows are what makes it so easy to love for Nunn. Being a part of the community and getting to see all of the students create a unique spirit and environment that thrives under the college’s mantra has left a good impression on the Media Director for the future of the school.
“Most places advertise accessibility, affordability, quality education and faculty, diverse campus. There is a laundry list of things that most places promote, and the truth is that most of them apply to anywhere,” Nunn said. “There is a spirit and a heart here. You hear people trash talking the young generation, but I think they are awesome. We have a student population that is well mannered, thoughtful, intelligent, crazy, experimenting, challenging and I love that.”
Now that retirement is knocking on Nunn’s door, she is making small plans, not big plans in effort to enjoy it. Nunn has already brought Nacho, the boxer puppy, home to join her family. Other activities she wants to dive into are: painting, camping and fishing as well as being nearby for her family, without becoming a full time babysitter.
“I’ve worked for more than 50 years and haven’t really been without a job since I was 14.”
“I am looking forward to going to bed when I want to, getting up when I want to, staying in my pajamas if I feel like it. I haven’t really had that opportunity as an adult, so I think it might be cool,” Nunn said.
Leaving behind one story and starting a whole new one; farewell Mrs. Director of Media Relations and good luck in retirement.
