Michael A. Dunn is a respected leader in the communications industry and a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After graduating from the University of Utah with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mass communication, Elder Dunn began his career as a freelance print journalist before transitioning to broadcasting as a television reporter and producer.
Before taking his communications expertise to public television, Elder Dunn founded Dunn Communications, Inc., an advertising agency and film production company he operated for 16 years. He has also worked as a senior writer and producer for Bonneville Communications and as the general manager of KUED Channel 7 (PBS Utah), where he oversaw operations of the television station. During this time, he worked on projects for the Salvation Army and the national image campaign for Major League Baseball.
Elder Dunn later served as the managing director of BYU Broadcasting, overseeing BYUtv and BYUradio from 2017 until his call as a General Authority Seventy in 2021. BYU Broadcasting, which began as a small radio channel at the end of World War II, now reaches audiences across the globe through television and digital media.
Elder Dunn is the recipient of numerous awards, including gold and silver medals from the New York Film Festival, an Emmy Award for public service, the Advertising Professional of the Year Award from the American Advertising Federation, and four CLIO Awards, regarded as the Oscars of the advertising industry.
In addition to his professional achievements, Elder Dunn has dedicated much of his life to serving in the Church. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 2021 and currently serves in the North America Southwest Area Presidency. His past Church service includes full-time missionary in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, bishop, stake president, high councilor, ward Young Men president, and president of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission from 2014 to 2017.
Born on March 5, 1958, in Tucson, Arizona, Elder Dunn was raised by his mother, Patricia, after his parents’ divorce. While attending high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, he met Latter-day Saint friends whose faith and family-centered lives led him to explore the gospel. After meeting with the missionaries and praying to know the truth, he was baptized a member during his senior year of high school. He has since recognized the hand of God in his life and considers it a blessing to share his testimony of Jesus Christ.
Elder Dunn and his wife, Linda Virginia Poulson, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1980 and are the parents of three children. Throughout his career and Church service, he has remained committed to sharing the gospel and helping others come to know the Lord.
