He played guard for its basketball team and was part of the squad that had a 23–1 record during the 1959–60 season.

[1] Dunn graduated from Hofstra University in 1962 and went on to play one season for the Williamsport Billies of the Eastern Basketball Association.

He subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at Syracuse University, obtaining a master's degree in creative writing in 1970.

[9] Dunn began teaching at Stockton University in 1974 and published his first full-length collection entitled Looking for Holes in the Ceiling that same year.

He later resided at homes in Ocean City, New Jersey, as well as Hurd's hometown of Frostburg, Maryland.