Dave O'Guinn

Dave O'Guinn is a Visiting Professor of Practice at the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Bloomington. Previously, he served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Indiana University Bloomington from 2018 to 2023, where he oversaw the Division of Student Affairs, Indiana Memorial Union, IU Recreational Sports, and IU Student Health Center, managing 550 staff serving over 47,000 students across 21 departments.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor's degree from DePauw University
• Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University
• Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame

O'Guinn's research focuses on transformative student affairs initiatives, blending legal expertise with public policy to enhance campus inclusion. His work centers on veteran/military student support systems, holistic student wellness frameworks, recovery community development, leadership cultivation, and fraternity/sorority life innovation, with emphasis on creating equitable environments for diverse student populations through evidence-based program design.

His leadership has been recognized with numerous awards:

• 2023: “Best Dean of Students Ever” award from Indiana University Student Government
• 2023: Lauren Robel Deans and Directors Excellence Award
• 2023: Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life “Outstanding Dedication and Service” award
• 2021: Provost’s Medal (highest recognition from Office of the Provost)
• 2020: IU’s Bicentennial Medal for expanding university impact

As former Chief Litigation Counsel and lead legal advisor to IU Athletics, O'Guinn pioneered campus-wide initiatives including the Center for Veteran and Military Students, Student Care and Resource Center, Collegiate Recovery Community, Student Involvement and Leadership Center, and Office for Sorority and Fraternity Life, demonstrating sustained commitment to student-centered institutional transformation through interdisciplinary collaboration.