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Where Are They Now? - Dani Kinnen (Women's Tennis)


Dani Kinnen transferred from Eastern Kentucky to Lipscomb for her final two seasons of collegiate tennis. She was a member of the ASUN All-Academic Team. During her summers she interned for the BBC. Since leaving Lipscomb she has been a world traveler. She spent to time remembering her athletic and life experiences at Lipscomb with Lipscombsports.com.
 
 
Name and sport played:
 
Dani Kinnen - Women's Tennis
 
 
What years did you compete for Lipscomb, and who coached you?
 
I competed during my junior and senior years at Lipscomb from 2014-2016.
 
I was coached by Jamie Aid, Oliver Strecker and Dwight Dale
 
 
What teammate was most memorable, and why?
 
Laura Kent is the most memorable person during my time at Lipscomb and was loved by everyone she would meet, on and off the court. As an athlete, she would always give everything she had and she refused to give up, even during the time she had a torn labral in her hip during our 2015-2016 season.
 
She is one of the most talented tennis players I've come across and I know she was an inspiration to a lot of the younger players. One of the greatest things to come out of my time at Lipscomb has been my friendship with Laura, I would consider her to be one of my best and closest friends, who welcomed me multiple times into her family home in Australia during my year in Melbourne. I am also very excited for her to be my bridesmaid when I get married at the beginning of next year.
 
 
What degrees have you earned, from where, and when?
 
I received a B.A. in Journalism & New Media from Lipscomb University and graduated in May 2016. However, in my last few months at college, I realized that it wasn't the path I wanted to go down. After a few years of traveling around Southeast Asia and Australia, and finally settling down in New Zealand, I was given an amazing opportunity in 2019 to work in the development team for an industrial property company. Therefore, I am hoping to start a Master of Property Practice degree for April 2023 and continue my career in analytics and property management.
 
 
Why did you attend Lipscomb?
 
I fell in love with Nashville, and I believed Lipscomb would be a great school to allow me to pursue my career in journalism.
 
I was also fortunate to meet a few of the other girls on the team before I signed, who were all so lovely and welcoming. It made my decision very easy.
 
 
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
 
I undertook an internship with Austin Gwin for my last year and I was privileged enough to watch LUV win the conference title from the controls room. The atmosphere was incredible.
 
 
Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?
 
My teammates:

They made me want to give everything on and off the court. I wanted to be the best version of myself and competitor for them, as even though tennis is such an individual sport, participating as a college athlete makes you realize that it isn't just you out there.
 
Our mentors:

Especially Kim and Keith Hays, Dr. Mark and Lydia Cobb and Trudy and Jim Evans (my teammate Kathryn Evan's parents). These wonderful people and mentors supported the women's tennis team in too many ways to write down. They welcomed us in as if we were part of their family and for some, like myself, along with the majority of the tennis team who were international students, they gave us that feeling of home in a foreign country.
 
There were many more people who influenced my athletic career during my time in the States but more importantly, I believe they helped me grow and shaped me into the person I am today.
 

What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here?
 
I think just being around friends 24/7 – I had some of the best times of my life with them.
 
 
What are the most valuable lessons you learned in your time at Lipscomb?
 
I learned some very valuable lessons during my time at Lipscomb. Mostly they were lessons that came through tough situations. However, I realized that sometimes the path you thought you would go down at the start of your journey, often ends up leading to a completely different destination.
 
I would very much like to thank my incredible advisor, Professor Alan Griggs, who helped me see my full potential in those last few months before I graduated. It has really paved where I am today.
 
 
Who were your favorite professors and why?
  • Professor Alan Griggs
  • Professor Leanne Smith
 
These two professors had a huge impact on me during my final year before graduating. They were such encouraging professors and helped my academic career massively.
 
One of the assignments that created some turmoil in my last few months at Lipscomb, was Professor Grigg's "5 Year plan" presentation. I remember knocking on his office door in tears with the realization that I had just studied four years' worth of courses, and ended up with a degree in a career that I didn't want to pursue. This assignment forced me to take a good look at myself and made me ask the question of how I could help young, up and coming athletes who didn't have the financial, mental and physical support behind them.
 
Also, in terms of courses, Principles of Management taught by Professor Leanne Smith at the Tennessee Prison for Women, was the most memorable class I've ever taken, and I still talk about it six years later.
 
 
Where did you grow up?
 
I grew up in Barcelona, Spain
 
 
Where do you live, and what do you do now?
 
I live in Auckland, New Zealand and work as an Operations Analyst and Assistant Property Manager for Goodman Property. I have continued to coach tennis throughout this time as it helps me unwind from a day in the office.
 
 
Tell us about your family:
 
My family are Scottish and are the most wonderful people.
 
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a different country to where I was born, which has given me so many opportunities and the courage to move across the other side of the world with the support of my family. However, thanks to the Covid pandemic and the border of New Zealand being closed for the last two years, I haven't been able to see my family since August 2019. This has been heartbreaking for myself and my partner, who is also from the United Kingdom, and it made us realize just how far away New Zealand is to the rest of the world.
 
My grandma, a 95-year-old Essex girl who was evacuated during the London bombings in World War II, has been the core of our family and the woman who glues us so tightly together. I am desperate to get home and can't wait for my family to come out to New Zealand to celebrate a summer Christmas and my wedding, which will take place January 5, 2023.
 
 
FAST FINISH:
  • Favorite food: Chinese Peking Duck
  • Favorite TV show or movie: The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises
  • Favorite Bible scripture: Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
  • Favorite sports team: Manchester United (Football – English Premier League)
  • Pet peeve: Drivers who don't indicate what they are going to do
  • Person I most admire: My grandma (But also my parents and my partner who have been my rocks)
  • Person I'd most like to meet: David Beckham
  • Rather ride or drive? Drive
  • Pick one – salad or dessert: Dessert!
  • Dream vacation spot: French Polynesia (Bora Bora)
  • Early morning or late-night person? Both
 
 
If you wish to reach out to Dani, she can be contacted by email or on Instagram.
  • Email address: danikinnen@gmail.com
  • Instagram: danikinnen
 
 
 
 
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