Mr. Dunston received the 40 Under 40 Award from the North Bay Business Journal in 2023.
BERKELEY, CA, April 18, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Daryel Dunston Sr., MPA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. Individuals profiled in Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Dunston has established a distinguished career in public service and currently serves as the assistant city manager for the City of Santa Rosa, California. Since 2022, he has been overseeing several key departments, including planning and economic development, housing and community services, information technology, the city clerk's office, and the violence prevention partnership. Mr. Dunston's leadership has been instrumental in driving initiatives that enhance community well-being and foster sustainable growth.
Apart from his work in public administration, Mr. Dunston has remained engaged with his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley, since receiving his graduate degree in 2018. He is the immediate past board chair of the Goldman School of Public Policy Alumni Association, after serving three consecutive terms, as well as a former member of the dean's distinguished board of advisors. He continues to chair the Association's governance committee following his appointment in 2019.
Prior to his current role with the City of Santa Rosa, Mr. Dunston served as a senior director with the San Francisco Foundation in California where his tenure was marked by significant contributions to regional planning and community development initiatives. In 2020, the City of Oakland appointed him as the emergency operations section chief for COVID-19 response, where he led critical pandemic response efforts. Concurrently, Mr. Dunston served as a deputy city administrator for the City of Oakland, focusing on homelessness and affordable housing solutions and infrastructure challenges.
Mr. Dunston's career in public service began in 2011 after becoming a sworn firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Prince George's County Fire Department, whose vast jurisdictional boundary borders Washington, D.C. In 2015, he transitioned to the department's Office of the Fire Marshal where he served as an assistant fire marshal until relocating to Berkeley California in 2017 to pursue a graduate degree. While completing his studies in public policy and government administration at the Goldman School of Public Policy, he served as the Vice Mayor's senior policy adviser for the City of Oakland, and subsequently as a senior planner for the human services department, between 2017 and 2020. His expertise in policy analysis was previously demonstrated through his commentary as a contributing writer for HuffPost between 2016 and 2018. Before embarking on his career in public service, Mr. Dunston honed his marketing and development management skills with the Army Distaff Foundation in Washington, D.C., from 2008 to 2011, after serving as a program associate for the organization between 2006 and 2007.
Ever the advocate and supporter of public institutions, Mr. Dunston is proud to have received an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College, before going on to complete his bachelor's degree at the University of Virginia. As previously noted, Mr. Dunston would later relocate to California, completing his graduate studies at the top-ranked Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2018. He was notably inducted into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. during his undergraduate years.
Throughout his career journey, Mr. Dunston has maintained active memberships with several industry-related organizations, such as the International City/County Management Association. His engagement with various extracurricular activities and community service endeavors has also enriched his personal life. He has served as a board member for the International Museum of Dance since 2020, contributes to community cleanup initiatives and annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day events organized in partnership with Kaiser Permanente in Sonoma County, and volunteers with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In 2016, Mr. Dunston was inducted into the Ancient and Accepted Order of Scottish Rite, Prince Hall Affiliation, following his steadfast dedication and commitment to community service, charity, and leadership principles.
In light of his success, Mr. Dunston has been recognized for his work with a Fire Chief's Award in 2011 and a Bronze Star (Unit Citation) in 2015 from Prince George's County Fire Department, a Community Leadership Award from the District of Columbia Public Schools, Browne Education Campus, in 2015, and a 40 Under 40 Award from the North Bay Business Journal in 2023. Looking toward the future, Mr. Dunston aspires to further his education by completing his law degree at Purdue University and ascending to higher levels of public service leadership.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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