Join the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs in celebrating the retirement of Dawn Pote, executive director for well-being and recreation. Pote will retire from Illinois State University on March 1 with over 15 years of service at the University. There will be a reception in her honor at the Aaron Leetch Club in Hancock Stadium on Monday, February 24, from 3-5 p.m. Remarks will be at 3:45 p.m. All members of the campus community are invited to attend.
Pote began her Student Affairs career in 1986 while working for Campus Recreation at Illinois State and earning her master’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation administration. She returned to Illinois State in 2009 when she once again joined Campus Recreation, this time as executive director. In 2022, Pote entered her current role, as executive director for well-being and recreation for the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Since returning to Illinois State, Pote has provided construction and operational leadership to projects including the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall, the Redbird Adventure Center, and most recently, the Bowling and Billiards Center renovation, including the new Redbird Esports facility and program. Pote has also served as an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer where she has enjoyed sharing her facility and event management expertise with undergraduate and graduate students.
Pote’s commitment to student success was formally recognized in 2023 when she received the Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life Award. We hope you will join us in honoring her and wishing her the best in her retirement.
