Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, not only is Dr. Dawn Riley Duval the Founder & CEO of Abundant Communications LLC, Dr. Dawn is a loving and liberative mom, communications specialist, athlete, and spiritual health leader. From age 9 to 27, she competed in Track & Field as a youth, collegiate, and professional athlete – twice competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter hurdles. For nearly two decades, Dr. Dawn served as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; presently she is ordained in the Universal Life Church and studies and practices Afro-Indigenous teachings, customs, and rituals particularly in Candomblé.
Dr. Dawn has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Rhetoric from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master's in Print Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master's of Divinity from Vanderbilt University, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. She received awards for her activism from the NAACP CO-MT-WY Conference and Colorado Black Women for Political Action, and from Vanderbilt Divinity School Rev. Dr. Dawn received the Umphrey Lee Dean’s Award – the highest prize presented at graduation, awarded to the student who most exemplifies the vision and commitments of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. In September 2022, Dr. Dawn was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for excellent achievement in the 100-meter hurdles, triple jump, and relays.
In her playtime, Dr. Dawn loves watching sports, basking in the sun on mountaintops or on beaches, playing board games/spades/bid whist, dancin’, sangin’, vibing with her kittens, talking and laughing with loved ones, and cooking easy yet delicious meals.
