Managing Director of Recreation Assessment & Partnerships

Nathan McKinnis was born in Sacramento, California but spent many years moving throughout the western United States including Utah, Idaho, and Arizona. Though he has lived in 8 states, he still considers California home. Inclusion and accessibility in campus recreation is at the forefront of Nathan’s passions. He is driven in serving and supporting the Duke Community to find their own definition of recreation.

Nathan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavior Sciences from California State University, Monterey Bay. During that time, he discovered his passion for outdoor education and recreation. One of the most impactful experiences in Nathan’s professional journey was during a Pacific Northwest Educator Course through the National Outdoor Leadership School. This course included 31 days of mountaineering and rock climbing in Washington and British Columbia. He then turned his passion into a career path after earning a Master of Science degree in Recreation Administration from Aurora University. Most recently, Nathan received a graduate certificate from North Carolina State University in Professional Communication and Managerial Skills.

Nathan has served in several roles within campus recreation during his professional career. This includes the Assistant Director of Adventure Pursuits at Towson University, the Assistant Director for Outdoor Programs & Education at Rice University, and Director of Outdoor Adventures at Duke University. Prior to his shift to Assessment & Partnerships, Nathan oversaw areas such as Sport Clubs, Intramural Sports, Outdoor Adventures and Marketing. He has also had a critical role in the development of the I.D.E.A. committee, which supports the Duke Community in efforts surrounding Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility.

Nathan is an avid disc golfer (PDGA #202114) and a huge fan of English Premier League soccer. He loves listening to live music and spending time with his family, his wife Lauren and son Kai.

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