RICHMOND, Ky. — Dan McBride grew up in Richmond, graduated from Model Laboratory School and Eastern Kentucky University, and has spent most of his adult life as a member of the EKU Athletics leadership team.
Along the way, McBride said he “developed an enormous love for EKU and the people of EKU.”
Now, the 1989 Eastern grad will move across campus to become the executive director of alumni engagement. McBride, currently senior associate athletics director, will assume his new role June 1.
“His background and skill set, his relationships with likely thousands of EKU alumni, his experience planning and hosting hundreds of events, as well as his ability to lead high-performing teams all pushed Dan to the top of a very strong pool of applicants,” said Nick Perlick, vice president for development and alumni relations at the University. “He is someone that many of us know well, and now we are so pleased that he will be joining our team in this role.”
McBride first joined his alma mater’s staff in 1992 as athletics ticket manager. He left to become general manager of a local radio station, but returned to campus in 1999. In his current role with athletics, he oversees all athletics facilities and construction projects, as well as all home game operations, several sports, strength and conditioning, and the dance team.
“I am very grateful to (Director of Athletics) Steve Lochmueller for his loyalty to me since arriving at EKU two years ago,” McBride said, “and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him on many projects in the future.”
McBride is no stranger to the University’s alumni operations, having served many years on the Alumni Board. He has also served as chair of the Richmond Parks and Recreation Board and as a member of the Bluegrass Sports Commission Board of Directors. Last fall, he received a Distinguished Service Award from the EKU International Alumni Association.
“It means more when you work for a place that means so much to you, a place that helped mold and make you the person you are today,” he said upon receiving the honor.
McBride is assuming his new role at the same time the university is experiencing growth on multiple fronts: a comprehensive campus revitalization, including many new academic and student-centric facilities designed to transform the living and learning experience; aesthetic enhancements; near-record enrollment; a four-year graduation rate that has more than doubled over the past seven years; and a record level of private support.
“EKU is changing, and some alumni might not even recognize the campus as it continues to transform and grow,” McBride said. “Who better to tell the story of how EKU is changing than someone who understands the rich history of Eastern, but is also embracing what she is becoming today.”
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