11/07/2025

Dawn Stewart

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Greater Columbus Sports Commission

Stewart joined the Greater Columbus Sports Commission in 2022 with 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics as a sports administrator at various NCAA levels. Prior to serving the Sports Commission, she was Otterbein’s Vice President of Student Affairs, serving in a dual role of Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Athletics.

During Dawn’s time at Otterbein, the Cardinals experienced great competitive success with top 60 finishes (out of 400+ schools) in the Learfied IMG Director’s Cup. Otterbein earned a combined 50 OAC titles and made 25 NCAA appearances while the women’s programs won two consecutive OAC all sports trophies. Stewart also restarted the Otterbein Wrestling program in 2016. In addition, her most notable fundraising activities were  $2 million Turf and Track project in Memorial Stadium and the implementation of the Otterbein Athletics Corporate Partnership Program. Stewart established naming rights and improvements to nearly all on-campus athletic facilities, added five new endowments and secured a $350,000 equipment gift in-kind from former NBA head coach George Karl.

Prior to Otterbein, Stewart spent four years as Director of Athletics for Capital University where she managed 18 sports along with 50 full- and part-time coaches and administrative personnel. In 2016, she was named one of four Under Armour AD of the Year winners within Division III by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). She was one of 28 ADs across the nation to be selected and one of just six females on the list.

In her role as Director of Strategic Partnerships, Dawn is responsible for overall strategy and successful revenue production by creating and implementing key community and business partnerships. Stewart received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Otterbein in 1998. She holds a master’s degree in sport management from The Ohio State University. A native of New Philadelphia, Ohio, Stewart and her husband, Steve, a 1998 graduate of Otterbein, live together in Galena with their son.