DJ Washington, Director of Employer and Regional Engagement

DJ Washington was appointed the University of Notre Dame's inaugural Director of Employer and Regional Engagement in the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development in September 2020.  In this role, DJ leads the Center's Employer Engagement and Regional Engagement staff to further develop our network of alumni, parents and employers to advance recruiting efforts for both undergraduate and graduate students. In particular, DJ provides leadership for the following objectives in the Center’s strategic plan:

• Expand relationships with employers and alumni by placing staff in strategic regions across the United States.
• Increase meaningful connections between students and alumni, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
• Establish recruiting relationships with top employers not actively recruiting at Notre Dame.
• Deepen relationships with existing partner employers to expand hiring into new job functions and office locations.
• Provide an unparalleled on-campus recruiting experience for employers and students.

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DJ Washington came to ND after spending 15 years with Athlete Network (Lenexa, KS), most recently as Senior Vice President.  Athlete Network provides a leading online engagement platform and unique mission to help college athletes advance after their playing days through access to professional careers, community connections, and athletic-driven content. DJ led online and campus career initiatives, and its business development division was responsible for hundreds of corporate partnerships. 

DJ has personally educated more than 400,000 college students, and has conducted over 1,000 campus seminars around the country since 2005.  He has worked with 150+ career center directors on train-the-trainer programs and tailored campus career initiatives.  DJ has been requested at a large range of professional forums, from higher education to sports business to corporate America as a lecturer, panelist, and keynote speaker.  

Originally from Nashville, TN, DJ did his undergraduate work and competed on the men’s basketball team at Union College (KY).  He received his bachelor’s degree in communication and marketing, and now serves on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater.  He has a master’s degree from Ball State University in public relations, and completed doctoral studies in higher educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Kansas.  His wife, Amy, is a National Board Certified Teacher who has worked in elementary education school systems for 15 years, and their four boys.