Jenny Dunaway

Dr. Jenny Ekern Dunaway is a globally experienced academic leader, educator, and humanitarian with over 25 years of international experience spanning higher education, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial sectors. With a doctorate in Global Business, and 3 master's degrees (Social Work, Applied Management in Social Change and Development, and Instructional Design and Technology), and advanced training from the United Nations and International Red Cross, she brings a deeply interdisciplinary and applied lens to academia.

As a university educator and administrator, Dr. Ekern Dunaway is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, student-centered instruction. With a pedagogical approach grounded in real-world application, she integrates storytelling, case studies, and lessons learned from her work as a humanitarian, entrepreneur, and scholar to enrich classroom learning. She is known for creating engaging, inclusive learning environments where students are encouraged to think critically, apply theory to practice, and develop actionable solutions to complex global challenges.

As a former University Department Chair overseeing seven undergraduate and graduate programs, Dr. Ekern Dunaway led curriculum development, program management and expansion, and faculty mentorship. In her current roles as a Sociology Faculty Associate and Quality Project Manager within Knowledge Enterprise at Arizona State University, her focus is on improving institutional systems by streamlining knowledge platforms, leading analytics and reporting for knowledge exchange, and supporting research and innovation initiatives. 

Dr. Ekern Dunaway has an insatiable, cross-disciplinary thirst for knowledge. She is a voracious reader and is dedicated to lifelong learning. She is working to become fluent in Spanish, and plans to earn a PhD in Archaeology, a Master's Divinity, and a Master's in Positive Psychology next. She has traveled to 35 countries and counting.