Broadcast Journalism Skills Help Dawkins ’08 Lead Wizards

Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins ’08 praised Emerson College while hosting an alumni mixer at the Capital One Arena.

“You really grow up and learn, and you have different experiences that you don’t have at other schools,” said Dawkins to a group of about 40 alumni during a recent Wizards game. “If you go to Emerson, you know what makes us unique and what makes us different.”

Dawkins spoke about how he uses the skills he honed at Emerson as a Broadcast Journalism major.

“We’re interviewing players at the combine. we’re interviewing coaches and asking, ‘What’s this player like?’ We’re gathering information, and using your investigative skills,” said Dawkins.

Dawkins said he landed his first NBA job thanks to Oklahoma City Thunder Executive VP and General Manager Sam Presti ’00. He had an interview at ESPN to be an intern, but then got an offer from Presti.

Dawkins credited former men’s basketball head coach Hank Smith with being a great influence on him as an athlete, both personally, and professionally.

“[Hank Smith] really just paved the way for what life is like and everything after school through basketball,” said Dawkins. “And there’s so many young men that have reached and achieved to go on do great things from the life lessons from him.”