Alumnus Tommy Dunham (‘22) has a new role on campus. In addition to serving Jessup alumni and parents, he is sharing his music expertise within the Church Relations department. Dunham is serving our 143 church partners by providing worship music for churches who may need some extra help. 

Dunham’s musical journey began when he took piano lessons at eight years old, but his love of music is almost inherent. “I used to walk around the house singing. I’d sing everywhere I went. In the car, shower, my backyard. I guess you could say it was in my DNA,” he said. He joined choir in middle school and upon entering high school, he auditioned and was selected for upper division show choir. Like most kids, Dunham also played sports including track and cross country, but his love for music surpassed his desire to pursue athletics.

Encouraged by a friend already attending Jessup, Dunham attended Preview Day and knew Jessup was the university for him. “What really appealed to me was that I could study business and still be a part of the University Choir and Orchestra because I knew how important that community was to me during high school,” he said. 

Dunham’s involvement with Jessup Music went beyond choir when he joined Crossroads, Jessup Music’s five-to-seven-member contemporary musical performance group. ”So many of the experiences I had in the music program helped prepare me for this role. As a section leader in choir, I had leadership opportunities while Crossroads helped with my ability to lead worship, select appropriate music and play in a band with a variety of musicians.”

Dunham has led worship at over 40 different churches, often filling in where needed or assembling a team of Jessup students and alumni to meet the specific needs of the church. “It’s really about adapting to the environment and making sure we provide what the church needs. Some churches prefer hymns while others let us decide,” he said. “My role is just one of the ways Jessup works to serve our partner churches well.”