Jonny Dierks currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Development at Penn State University. Recently elevated from his previous role as Assistant Athletic Director for Annual Giving, Jonny oversees all annual giving initiatives for the Nittany Lion Club, leads a team of leadership gift officers, and serves as a major gift officer supporting key fundraising priorities across Penn State Athletics.
Since joining the Nittany Lion Club in 2023, Jonny has brought valuable experience from his previous role as a key contributor on the major gifts team at Boston College. He began his fundraising career at Temple University in Philadelphia as a frontline fundraiser.
Dierks earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he was a member of the baseball team and served on the team’s leadership council. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a doctorate from Temple University, where his dissertation focused on engagement and the role of athletic team membership in student success. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown in their Sports Industry Management program.
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Jonny was raised in Independence, Kansas, and now resides in State College with his wife, Lisa.