The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is pleased to announce that Scott Dolson, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at IU, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
The award is the highest honor bestowed upon an O’Neill School graduate and recognizes Dolson’s exemplary leadership, professional achievements, and service to both the university and broader community.
“Scott has shown service to the greater good throughout his career by leading IU athletics through notable moments of change, consistently aiming to support student success and wellness in life beyond the sport,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “His efforts, rooted in the O’Neill School and demonstrated through IU athletics, make him a clear choice for this award.”
Dolson is a 1988 graduate of the O’Neill School, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in management while also serving as the head manager for the IU men’s basketball team. He joined the staff of the IU Varsity Club in 1989, eventually rising to become director, and he became part of the IU Athletics Department as deputy director and chief operating officer in 2009.
As IU’s athletic director, Dolson has overseen major facility improvements, guided the department through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and championed opportunities for student-athletes in the evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness rights. Beyond athletics, he has played a vital role in connecting IU alumni and fans with the university community.
“I’m honored to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award,” Dolson said. “I humbly accept it, but I feel like I have a long way to go. I want to continue to strive to be worthy of that title, and I feel like I want to prove myself every day. I want the O’Neill School to someday look back at the list of people who have received this award and see that I’ve continued to earn it as we move forward.”