JD Dunbar

RULE website

A speaker by trade, and a wordsmith by profession, my background incorporates an eclectic blend of time served in higher education for Penn State; formerly in industry, as a Communication Specialist for the General Electric Company, as well as community and education based positions. I was a Chamber of Commerce Director, held a stint in private business as Advertising Manager, and have taught university level classes.

When people ask what I do, I like to say that I am a, "Leadership Grower." The Pennsylvania Rural-Urban Leadership Program administration and Penn State Extension Senior Educator roles involves a robust purview of responsibilities with a high degree of reassurance that each day looks vibrantly different. A member of the National Speakers Association, it is my blessed fortune to have been featured in keynotes in 5 countries and 20 states.

It is a jolt of joy to mentor others and to grow from the coaching of those who provide counsel and example. I have been a trustee for 14 years under the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and was recently appointed By Governor Wolf 9/2022 as an inaugural trustee to PennWest, an integrated university comprised of campuses of Edinboro, Cal U and Clarion. I completed a 4.5 year term as Chair of the Clarion University Council of Trustees. I served as member of State System Integration meetings. A member of PennWriters, I have been published in various magazines for local government, leadership publications and LinkedIn articles. I have hosted 166 leadership study institutes, three international conferences, and participated in 36 webinars over last few years, including speaking stints for other leadership programs globally. It will be a jolt of joy to graduate RULE XIX this year, a new cadre of leaders who have the capacity to change the world.

Specialties: leadership development, wordsmith and international public speaker; trustee, mentor, diversity advocate and bridge-builder