October 28, 2015
Marketing Senior 'Serves' Well on the Court and in the Classroom
Student Highlight: Sierra Lee-Dunson
For many student-athletes, striking a balance between sports and academics can be a big struggle – but ECU women’s volleyball player Sierra Lee-Dunson has succeeded on the court and in the classroom throughout the past three years.
Lee-Dunson, a senior marketing student from Atlanta, says she chose ECU because she wanted to help build the volleyball program.
“My freshman year, our volleyball team was 2 and 28,” she said. “I wanted to leave behind a legacy that created a more competitive and winning environment.” Lee-Dunson’s twin sister, Kierra, also joined her at ECU and plays on the volleyball team.
“We both had offers from different colleges, but we narrowed it down to colleges that wanted us both,” said Lee-Dunson. “ECU was our second visit, and right off the bat we knew it was a great fit.”
She says their shared love of the sport has brought them closer than ever, although they play different positions and chose different majors (Kierra is a psychology major with a minor in recreational therapy.)
Lee-Dunson says business is in her blood, too, since she grew up watching her grandmother run her own successful business. After graduation in May 2016, she plans to earn her MBA. She hopes to become an entrepreneur, and she’s set on being a millionaire by age 35. When she’s not playing volleyball or studying, Lee-Dunson enjoys books and calls herself an “avid reader.” The volleyball team also participates in community service work throughout the year, with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Aces for Autism, Relay for Life, and the Girl Scouts (North Carolina Coastal Pines district).
![04 September 2015: Ashton Mares tallied a double-double while Natalie Montini and Ashley McRae notched career-highs in kills to help lead East Carolina over Presbyterian, 3-2 [25-10, 25-13, 23-25, 23-25, 15-6] at the Wildcat Classic Friday night at Belk Arena in Davidson, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit - Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography](https://business.ecu.edu/news/wp-content/pv-uploads/sites/519/2015/10/Sierra-Lee-Dunson-2.jpg)
Lee-Dunson said, “Balance is an important part of being successful in any career. Thanks to my experiences at East Carolina, I have been trained to organize and efficiently tackle any task. Being a student-athlete has provided me with great time management skills, too, as well as the ability to prioritize the common good of a team. I hope I continue to learn and grow, so that I am able to give whatever business the best version of myself possible.”