Welcome to the Director Download, powered by Campus Rec Magazine.
It’s time to go behind the curtain of the director role and have honest discussions with leaders in the campus recreation industry.
In this episode, host Grady Sheffield, the director of Campus Recreation at Towson University and senior advisor to Campus Rec Magazine, chats with Ashleigh Lewellen, the director of Campus Recreation at Missouri State University.
Ashleigh Lewellen’s career path didn’t follow a traditional script. From youth sports in Japan with Navy MWR to Parks and Recreation in Missouri, her journey is defined by:
- Curiosity
- Adaptability
- Meaningful mentorship
Today, she leads with empathy, strategic vision and a strong commitment to student development and institutional collaboration.
Sheffield and Lewellen explore everything from stepping into leadership without a playbook to shaping a culture of growth and trust within her department. Lewellen’s approach to directing is rooted in relationships, clear communication and empowering others to shine.
In this episode, Ashleigh Lewellen discusses:
- How international military recreation work early in her career shaped her cultural awareness and passion for community building.
- The surprising value of working in municipal Parks and Rec and how it prepared her for higher ed bureaucracy.
- Why she initially thought someone else would teach her how to be a director.
- What it’s like sitting at the strategic planning table and representing all of Student Affairs.
- How she uses empathy and relationship-building to support staff and students, while balancing accountability with positivity.
- Why she focuses on hiring “ideal team players” and how she uses tools like NACE competencies and twice-yearly evaluations to develop student staff.
- The importance of being transparent about expectations, even when you only realize them after they’re unmet.
- What surprised her most behind the curtain: there’s no playbook for getting a seat at the table or expanding your footprint, and that’s OK.
