Photo by Cenn Hall
Most people have never been out of the country, nor have they been offered a Division I athletic scholarship before. For assistant professor of sports communication Dunja Antunovic, both of these accomplishments are her reality.
Currently, in her third year teaching at Bradley, she specializes in global media systems, sports communication and cultural diversity classes. Antunovic teaches primarily upper level 300 or 400 level classes that tackle in-depth issues in the sports world related to advertising, media coverage and ethics.
Something that makes Antunovic’s teaching style unique is her ability to share global and cultural experiences, which stem from her personal experiences in Europe in addition to research she conducts while visiting family in Hungary. Born in Serbia and raised in Hungary, Antunovic’s background gave her a different perspective on life, culture and sports.
“I go back frequently, the long breaks provide the perfect opportunity to visit during the holidays or summer,” Antunovic said. “I also do some research pertaining to my class topics and try to bring [it] back for my students.”
A standout tennis player in her teenage and college years, she competed for the Hungarian National Tennis Team at the World University Games. This ultimately lead her to receive a scholarship to DePaul University in Chicago, where she would play for the Blue Demons while getting her undergraduate degree.
Her love of the sport persisted past playing, according to Antunovic.
“I even stayed on to coach a little before I went to graduate school, which was a rewarding experience” Antunovic said. “DePaul’s program gave me an opportunity to get an education in America, so it was nice to give back for a bit.”
Antunovic went on to earn her master’s in journalism from Penn State and began looking for a full-time teaching job.
“I was looking for a job full time in academia, and Bradley’s opening came on my radar,” Antunovic said. “After a phone call, a visit and subsequent consideration, I found myself doing what I wanted to do since graduate school.”
Students who have taken Antunovic’s courses said they enjoy taking the wide range of classes she teaches.
“Professor Antunovic is one of my favorite professors at Bradley,” Madison Scanlan, a senior sports communication major, said. “I took her for a required sports [communication] class my junior year, and I loved her so much that I’ve taken two more classes with her during my senior year. Professor Antunovic has vast and extensive knowledge in multiple areas: global perspectives, women and gender as well as athletes with disabilities.”
More than that, Scanlan said Antunovic cares about not only the academic development of students but also the professional success of students.
“[Antunovic] plays a vital role in the creation and execution of the annual [Charley] Steiner Symposium each fall,” Scanlan said. “This past Steiner Symposium, she reached out me personally and helped me meet and make connections with Charley Steiner, Larry King and Emily Kaplan, a National NHL reporter for ESPN.”
According to Antunovic, she believes both her and the students she teaches benefit from having classes together.
“I love the classes I teach, I feel like I can offer students a broader perspective about the field they are studying,” Antunovic said.
