Dawn's academic journey began at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIU-E),where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre Performance. This marked the start of her illustrious career, as she joined the esteemed ranks of the Equity Association in 1987.
Early in her career, Dawn worked in the St. Louis and Chicago markets, earning union cards from AFTRA, AEA, and SAG. Her impressive credentials led her to relocate to Los Angeles in 1996, commencing a remarkable seventeen-year tenure in television acting. During this period, she secured six pilot roles, three series regular positions, and made over twenty-five guest appearances.
Notable highlights from her television career include a series regular role on Viper, 413 Hope Street, Starhunter, and Nobody, as well as a recurring role on the Young and the Restless. Additionally, she made notable guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise, Ally McBeal, Profiler, Beverly Hills 90210, Profiler, and True Blood.
Dawn has had the pleasure of working alongside a diverse range of talented actors, including Damon Wayans on My Wife and Kids, Steve Harvey on the Steve Harvey Show, Wanda Sykes on Wanda at Large, and Monique on The Parkers. Her film credits include The Fugitive and Original Gangstas.
On the professional stage, Dawn has had the privilege of performing iconic roles such as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Paulina in A Winter's Tale, Goneril in King Lear, and Margaret of Anjou in a Shakespeare adaptation she co-wrote with Stephan Wolfert called She-Wolf.
However, Dawn is most proud of her role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the 501(c)(3) organization De-Cruit, the only veteran-created, interdisciplinary, strengths-based, scientifically validated theater-based program in the country. This innovative program aims to support military veterans by treating traumatic stress and associated problems encountered during their transition from military life to civilian life.
