Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A 1999 Mississippi State communication graduate is the new communications director for the Southeastern Conference.
Charles D. "Chuck" Dunlap's promotion was announced Thursday [Oct. 10] by conference commissioner Mike Slive. Dunlap begins his new duties immediately, Slive added.
Associate director of media relations since 2007, Dunlap is a 13-year veteran of the SEC office in downtown Birmingham, Ala. The Louisville native joined the conference as an intern shortly after graduation.
"Chuck is a longtime member of the SEC office who provides strong leadership and experience to his areas and is critical to the success of our communications department as it moves into a new era," Slive said, in making the announcement.
The commissioner said Dunlap's new duties will include service as:
--The SEC's primary contact for football and day-to-day communication and publicity efforts of the sport;
--A liaison for the Bowl Championship Series and upcoming College Football Playoff; and
--Leader of communications, media and public relations efforts of the annual SEC football championship game.
Veteran MSU journalism instructor Frances O. McDavid said she is not surprised Dunlap has reached so major a level of responsibility in one of the nation's dominant athletic conferences.
"Chuck always was diligent in his studies and serious about getting all that he could from the academic experience," McDavid recalled. "He also worked for the athletic media relations office, which, I think, shows how truly dedicated he was in preparing for the career he now has."
Dunlap, who holds a 2004 master's degree in business from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, was named assistant director of SEC media relations in 2002. He was promoted to associate director five years later.
Dunlap's wife, the former Amber Chrisman, also is a 1999 MSU communication graduate.