Nike Executive Dave Schechter is SBS Alumnus of the Year
SBS Alumnus of the Year Dave Schechter (center) with John Paul Jones III, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Melinda Burke, president of the UA Alumni Association.
This homecoming, the UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is delighted to name David Schechter as its 2019 Alumnus of the Year for his outstanding career success and his dedication to the university and its students.
Dave Schechter is a vice president at Nike and a community leader in Portland, Oregon. A proud Wildcat, Dave has said that his English major helped prepare him for his career, and that story telling is a critical part of what he does.
When he was a student at the UA, Dave was president of the ATO fraternity and worked for the Arizona Daily Wildcat newspaper. After completing a bachelor’s degree in English in 1990, Dave began his career working in media relations for professional and collegiate sports organizations.
He joined Nike in 1995, and since then he has held roles of increasing responsibility in sales, merchandising, and product creation. In 2017, he became vice president of footwear for Max Air.
Dave and his wife, Tory, are active members of the Portland community, supporting organizations focused on teen mental health awareness and services.
Dave also has remained a dedicated Wildcat. In addition to being a diehard supporter of Arizona sports teams, Dave has helped guide Wildcat interns with Nike and spoken at the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences on retail business analysis and decision-making. Dave is also a participant in the Wildcat Mentor Society,
In the past year, Dave and Tory have made gifts to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to support student success.