About Me

Dawn began her career in college counseling after seeing the positive reaction her son had when he worked with a Steele Street college counselor during his last two years of high school. Having spent 11 years working in higher education, Dawn found helping high school students with their college planning was a perfect fit.

Dawn is also the founder and president of DTO Strategies, a full-service, bi-partisan public affairs firm providing clients with expertise in public and media relations, K-12 and higher education policy, brand development and marketing, multi-issue writing and editing, government relations, strategic communications, issue management, team building, public outreach and stakeholder engagement, and policy and political insight.

Prior to founding DTO Strategies, Dawn served as Executive Director of College In Colorado for the Colorado Department of Higher Education for 11 years under Governors Owens, Hickenlooper, and Ritter. In this role, she led a statewide initiative, including outreach and Web site services, to help Colorado students plan their future and help ensure that they are postsecondary and workforce ready when they leave high school.

Dawn also served as Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources where she was called upon to write opinion editorials, press releases, newsletters, issue papers, and articles for publication. This experience capitalized on her earlier role as Speechwriter and senior staff member for Governor Bill Owens. Appointed in August of 1999, Dawn researched, wrote, and edited all of the Governor’s speeches. She was also charged with various writing assignments, including speeches for members of the Governor’s Cabinet and staff.

Before moving to Colorado, Dawn lived in Washington, D.C. where she served as Legislative Assistant to Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, as Deputy Press Secretary to Senator Frank Murkowski of Alaska, and as Press Secretary to Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon. Additionally, she served as guest host and moderator of “Ask Your Senator,” a weekly syndicated television program featuring United States Senators. During her time in DC, Dawn was also a freelance television producer for AP Sports Television, where she wrote copy and produced video for the AP’s clients, including ESPN, the NFL Network, and FOX Sports.

A Wyoming native, Dawn was raised in Laramie and currently resides in Denver. She is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a degree in Broadcasting. She resides in Denver with her husband Jim, their two boys, Harlan (19) and Taylor (17), and their French Bulldog Touchdown (7).

Specialty Areas

Students Enrolled

University of Kansas, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of North Dakota, Western Washington University, Auburn University, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, The University of Alabama, San Diego State University, Montana State University -- Bozeman, University of Denver, University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Suffolk University, Lewis and Clark College, University of Puget Sound, Rochester Institute of Technology, The University of Arizona, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Nebraska -- Lincoln, University of Wyoming, Kansas State University, University of Northern Colorado, Minnesota State University -- Mankato, University of Iowa, University of California, Berkeley, Colorado College, New York University, Pace University, University of Vermont, Washington University in St. Louis, College of William and Mary, Loyola University Chicago, Chapman University, University of San Diego.

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