Trustees banded together to honor Brent Dunn, a Bear known as “Mr. Missouri State.”

Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement, was about to lead the crowd at the Board of Trustees meeting on tours of the advancement center.

That’s when trustee leaders Beverly Miller Keltner and Jim Wilson made their move: They shooed him away from the microphone. Shocked, he clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath as the two hijacked the meeting.

They had a big surprise.

Together, trustees had named an area in the center in his honor: the Brent Dunn Vice President for University Advancement Suite.

Wendy Ferguson, assistant vice president for development and strategy, and Stephanie Smith, executive director of university advancement relations, had approached them with the idea.

It was a no brainer, Miller Keltner said.

“He has truly been a difference-maker at Missouri State,” she said.

His name is synonymous with the university, said Wilson, who is the outgoing chair.

“With the coming of this incredible new facility, the Board of Trustees couldn’t let this opportunity pass without recognizing Brent’s service,” Wilson said. “Brent loves this university. He works 14 hours a day. He’s given his whole life to this university.”

Missouri State President Richard B. Williams agreed that Brent “isn’t here to just do a job. He is Mr. Missouri State.”

He was a first-generation student who didn’t know if he’d ever go to college

Dunn is a Springfield native raised by a single mother. His dad died of a heart attack when Dunn was 1.

His grandma died the next day of a heart attack, devastated at the loss of her son.

When young Brent started elementary school at Bingham, his mom became a cafeteria cook at Jarrett Middle School so she could be off of work when her son was home.

His first connection with the university started with Art Hains, who hired Dunn his junior year of high school to call games for radio station KGBX.

Dunn received a federal Pell grant his freshman year to attend then-Southwest Missouri State University.

That first day on campus was special, because he wasn’t sure he’d even have an opportunity to go to college. He still remembers that feeling.

After a rocky start — Dunn jokes that no one told him he had to study— he rebounded and had a blast in college.

He served two terms as speaker pro tem for the Student Government Association.

He also worked full time in radio and sports, becoming news and public service director of KWTO.

From a first job in 1985, to a vice president role in 2007

After earning his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1985, Dunn was hired as the university’s director of annual giving.

Miller Keltner remembers Dunn’s early days when he was at all the basketball games. She is a 40-year season pass holder for football and basketball.

“He was always there and always talked athletics,” she said. “We have developed a friendship over all these years.”

While working, he was also in graduate school. He earned his master’s degree in communication in 1991.

In 1995, he was appointed director of athletic development and assistant director of athletics.

In 2007, Dunn was promoted to vice president of advancement. He is the longest-serving advancement employee, and is in charge of elevating Missouri State University through philanthropy, engagement and collaboration.

He met his wife on campus; their son is a recent graduate

One day at the Meyer Center, graduate assistants toured the building. He noticed one student and asked someone to find out her name. It was Jennifer.

A week later, Dunn was invited by David and Lisa Officer to a Final Four party.

Lo and behold, Jennifer was there — she was David’s sister-in-law. David was a season ticket holder.

“I told him: If you can get me a date with your sister-in-law, I’ll get you better seats,” Dunn said.

He got the date. David got the seats — but he had to pay for the upgrade.

Brent and Jennifer have been married 31 years and have one son, Dalton, who graduated with a bachelor’s in agriculture from Missouri State in 2025.

After Miller Keltner and Wilson announced the naming of the suite, Dunn’s family came out of hiding and hugged him. Miller Keltner thanked them, saying she knew they attended many university events and gave up time with Dunn as he worked tirelessly.

Dunn was visibly moved but tried to keep his emotions in check. The gravity of the gesture didn’t hit him until that night — he was “shocked and humbled.”

Jennifer Dunn said the naming was a “huge honor. This means the world to him. He bleeds maroon, that is for sure.”

Four decades of raising funds and making friends

For more than 40 years, Dunn has served as an ambassador, spokesperson and advocate for the foundation and university. Dunn gets up at 4:30 a.m. and is usually in the office by 6 or 6:30 a.m. to get a jump on his day.

In the afternoon and evening, he goes to games, and university events, and galas, and meetings. And not just in the community, but around the world.

He has been involved in everything from athletics to art events to building dedications. He’s watched — and helped — the university grow.

In 1985, when he joined the foundation, there were 16 employees. Today, there are 43.

Dunn has led the two most successful capital campaigns in university history.

The Our Promise campaign goal was $125 million, and ended with $167 million in 2012.

The Onward, Upward goal was $250 million and ended in 2022 with $274 million.

But his job goes way beyond dollar signs.

“Working with alumni, friends and donors I would not have otherwise met is my favorite thing,” Dunn said. “We share a common love for this institution. I have a chance to meet thousands of people, and that is the coolest thing. After 40 years, some families, like the McQuearys, I’ve known three or four generations and I feel like I’m part of their family. They are good people who have done great things for this university.”

Outside of the foundation, Dunn is involved in the community. He was elected to several terms for the Nixa Board of Education. He is a board member with the Missouri State Fair Foundation and the Nixa Public Schools Foundation. He’s been a Rotarian since 1986 and is on the Springfield Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast Foundation Board.

When asked how he wants to be remembered when he retires, Dunn said: “Oh gosh, that’s weird. I feel like I am dying. I haven’t thought about that. I was just fortunate to get a college degree and this job. It’s a privilege and honor to get a degree and do things to improve yourself and your community. I appreciate the lifelong relationship I have to this school.”