51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Originally from Dawsonville, Georgia, Tyler Dominy earned his master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of North Georgia (51³Ô¹ÏÍø). Dominy earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in spring 2022 after graduating early with his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Coming straight from high school, Dominy's passion for sports is what provided him with the path to college. His relationships and connections are a big part of who he is today and ultimately that's a result of the sport and his decision to play for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

"51³Ô¹ÏÍø was always there for me. It seemed like it was destiny that I was to come here," he said. "It wasn't my first choice, but it turned out it was my best choice."

Dominy wanted to stay close to family, and to his tight-knit group of five friends whom he had known since childhood. So, his high school basketball coach pulled a sleight-of-hand, alerting then-51³Ô¹ÏÍø basketball coach Chris Faulkner of a potential recruit in his backyard.

"Tyler was a high-character young man who exemplified everything we wanted in a student-athlete at North Georgia," Faulkner said. "Tyler was the type of person who everyone gravitated to and wanted to be around. He and I developed a relationship over the past few years that stretched far beyond basketball."

Dominy redshirted his first year, which allowed him to continue playing after graduating in summer 2017 and to start his MPA program. His love for the sport allowed for what he calls a happy accident.

"With me playing basketball that fifth year, I started to learn about the online MPA program. The flexibility really spoke to me and was a good compliment to a business degree," Dominy said.

Currently, Dominy works for Junior Achievement of Georgia, a global education nonprofit organization based in Cumming, Georgia. He serves as the director of volunteer partnerships and experience, strategically working with funding partners, as well as colleges and universities to help support students and prepare them for their careers after graduation. In his free time, he is active in his community as a part of the Rotary Club of Forsyth County.

The leader believes the people in his life deserve credit for their impact and he advises incoming 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students to not take for granted the power of surrounding themselves with positivity.

"My advice would be to try new things. It's a cool time to explore a new world and meet new people your age," Dominy said. "Those experiences have all been positive and impactful to my life."