A native of Raleigh, Pat Dunn graduated from East Carolina College in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. As an undergraduate, Dunn was active in the Baptist Student Union, serving as its president her senior year. She was also a member of the Future Teachers of America, Women’s Recreation Association, the Inter-Religious Council, and the ECC Association of Health and Physical Education. Her sophomore and junior years she served on the Buccaneer staff and was a reporter for the East Carolinian. Her junior year she was president of her dorm, Fleming Hall. Following graduation, Dunn finished a master’s degree in physical education and counselling at the University of Tennessee, another master’s degree in guidance and counselling at UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Ph.D. in health education at Ohio State University. She returned to East Carolina in 1971 as a professor of health education. Dunn was active at ECU, serving on Faculty Senate committees and as a coordinator of volunteer activities for international students as part of the Global Academic Initiatives Program. For her work in the latter as well as a host of other campus projects, Dunn was honored in 2007 as one of ten Women of Distinction at ECU.
Throughout her life, Dunn was involved in civic affairs. In Greenville, she served on the Human Relations Council and the Board of Adjustment, and was active in the League of Women Voters, having served at one point as president of the league. Dunn also served on the board of directors for the Eastern N.C. Substance Abuse Council, the Salvation Army, Lifelong Learning, STRIVE, Habitat for Humanity, the Pitt County Council on Aging, the Pitt County Coalition to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy, and the Career Development Center for Displaced Homemakers.
After retiring from teaching in 2005, Dunn was elected to serve on the Greenville City Council. In 2007, Dunn ran for mayor of Greenville and was elected to a first term, 2008-2010, and then, upon reelection, a second, 2010-2012. During her tenure on the City Council, Dunn held leadership roles in the N.C. Mayors’ Metro Coalition, the state’s League of Municipalities, the Greenville Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Pitt County Board of Elections. One of the most noteworthy achievements during Dunn’s years on the City Council and as mayor was the expansive realization of the Greenway project, a system of walking, jogging, and biking paths bordering the Tar River and extending into the southern reaches of Greenville. In her bid for a third term, Dunn was defeated by Allen Thomas, another ECU alumnus.
In 2012, in recognition of her exceptional service as an educator and civic leader, Governor Beverly Purdue named Dunn to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s most prestigious honors.
Sources
- “Challenger outraising Greenville mayor. Daily Reflector. November 5, 2011. Document ID: 110511CampaignMoney.
- “Dunn honored for public service.” Daily Reflector. July 16, 2012. http://www.reflector.com/News/2012/07/16/Dunn-honored-for-public-service.html?fullsize=1&item=
- “Dunn has long history of service.” Daily Reflector. October 30, 2011. Document ID: 103011FORUM_Ames.
- “ECU’s 2007 Women of Distinction named.” April 3, 2007. ECU News Services. https://www.ecu.edu/news/newsstory.cfm?id=1153
- “Kittrell, Dunn to be honored.” Daily Reflector. November 21, 2011. Document ID: 112111CouncilAdvance.
- “Mayoral candidate Pat Dunn.” Daily Reflector. November 6, 2011. Document ID: 110611MayorCandidates.
- “Thanks to Dunn, Kittrell.” Daily Reflector. December 4, 2011. Document ID: 120411ED_DepartingCouncil.
- Underhill, Martha. “Dunn Heads Baptist Group For Second Year; Has Plans For BSU.” East Carolinian. Vol. 33, No. 1. September 19, 1957. P. 4. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/38431
More from Digital Collections
Image Source: 1958 Buccaneer, page 246
Citation Information
Title: Patricia "Pat" Carolyn Dunn
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 6/18/2019