SPEA 327
Biography
Dave O’Guinn served as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Indiana University Bloomington from 2018 to 2023. As VP and Dean of Students, O’Guinn was the chief student affairs officer for the Division of Student Affairs, the Indiana Memorial Union, IU Recreational Sports, and the IU Student Health Center, overseeing more than 47,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 550 staff across 21 departments and services.
A proud Hoosier, O'Guinn earned his undergraduate degree from DePauw University, his master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame.
During his tenure as VP and Dean of Students, O'Guinn’s leadership was instrumental in founding transformative programs such as the Center for Veteran and Military Students, the Student Care and Resource Center, the Collegiate Recovery Community, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the Office for Sorority and Fraternity Life —initiatives that significantly enhanced the student experience and fostered inclusion on campus.
Before stepping into the Vice Provost role, O'Guinn spent 11 years in the Office of General Counsel at Indiana University. In 2015, he was promoted to Indiana University’s first and only Chief Litigation Counsel. In this role, he oversaw nearly all of the University’s litigation and served as the University’s primary employment attorney, handling a wide range of critical legal issues. For over eight years, O'Guinn was also the lead legal advisor to the Indiana University Athletic Department and the University’s primary student affairs counsel.
Throughout his career, O'Guinn’s leadership has been recognized by both his peers and students. In 2023, he received the “Best Dean of Students Ever” award from the Indiana University Student Government, a special honor given directly by the students. That same year, he also received the Lauren Robel Deans and Directors Excellence Award and an award from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life for “Outstanding Dedication and Service.” In 2021, O'Guinn was honored with the Provost’s Medal, the highest recognition from the Office of the Provost, for transforming key aspects of the Bloomington campus and greatly enhancing the student experience. In 2020, he was awarded IU’s Bicentennial Medal for broadening the reach of Indiana University across the state, nation, and world.
O'Guinn’s diverse and wide-ranging experience, from student life to legal counsel, has shaped his approach to supporting students, advocating for their needs, and helping foster a dynamic and inclusive campus community where all students can thrive.