Asst. AD to work for free at UNLV

Steve Addy

Thursday, July 11, 2002 | 10:23 a.m.

After six months of being paid to serve as UNLV's primary athletics fundraiser, Diane Dickerson decided she liked volunteering better, especially if it helps the program's bottom line.

It was that realization in the last month that led Dickerson, UNLV's associate athletic director for development, to take a quite unusual step. She has donated her salary back to the athletic department, but will continue her fund-raising duties.

Athletic director John Robinson tried to talk her out of it, and hoped Dickerson would also be willing to head UNLV's sports marketing. But Dickerson believed she could be more effective seeking donations as an earnest volunteer.

"It probably does sound unusual, but it was totally my choice," Dickerson said from Hawaii, where she in on vacation. "I will still have my office at UNLV and I will still do the things I'm doing now, but I'll be a volunteer."

By giving up her salary, Dickerson said Robinson can dedicate those funds to bolstering the marketing staff.

"I believe strongly in the program, and I know what a great (financial) need there is right now," Dickerson said. "But I like (fund-raising) as a volunteer. I've been doing it for years, and potential donors can recognize the value of a cause better from a volunteer, rather than somebody being paid to support that cause."

Dickerson became associate AD in January, filling the development role vacated by Jim Bolla. In the spring, ex-Caesars Palace president Dean Harrold joined UNLV's development staff as a volunteer consultant.

"(Dickerson) didn't want to get bogged down in the administrative stuff," Robinson said. "Like (Harrold), she wants to be out in the community selling UNLV to people and fundraising. We're really cramped on a budget basis, so she -- like Dean -- decided to volunteer her services.

"It's a great deal for UNLV to have such high-profile people in the community volunteering to help the school."

Dickerson said she isn't disillusioned or frustrated in her efforts to secure donations for UNLV. But she conceded that it hasn't been an easy sell, either.

"There are a lot of people who want to give," she said. "But there has been such change and turmoil and ups and downs in UNLV athletics, there is a portion who want to take a wait-and-see attitude.

"I think that will turn around. We have the right people in place. John Robinson is worthy of everybody's support, and look what Charlie Spoonhour did with his basketball team in a short amount of time. I think there's a lot of hope there." I will still have my office at UNLV and I will still do the things I'm doing now, but I'll be a volunteer."