It’s time to go behind the curtain of the director role and have honest discussions with leaders in the campus recreation industry.
In episode 46 of the Director Download podcast, host Grady Sheffield, the director of Campus Recreation at Towson University and senior advisor to Campus Rec Magazine, sits down with Kristin DeAngelo, the executive director of University Recreation and Wellness at the University of Arkansas.
With a career that defies the common “move out to move up” narrative within campus recreation, DeAngelo has spent her entire professional journey at Arkansas — from graduate assistant to executive director — building deep institutional knowledge along the way. In this conversation, she reflects on her unconventional path into campus rec, the power of mentorship, and what it means to lead with humility, authenticity and a growth mindset.
From embracing unfamiliar roles in her early years to navigating the weight of leadership as a first-time executive director, DeAngelo shares insight on what it takes to show up for your team, own your mistakes and never stop growing.
This episode is a must-listen for campus rec professionals thinking about their career trajectory or leading with authenticity.
Campus Rec Magazine · Leading with Honesty and Transparency with Kristin DeAngelo
Highlights from the Conversation on Leading with Honesty and Transparency:
- DeAngelo’s unconventional path from an aspiring lawyer to a campus rec executive director — and how mentors can redirect your entire career.
- Finding growth by saying yes and seeking out new opportunities.
- Post-COVID leadership and the chance it gave her team to reset direction and culture.
- Navigating facilities work as a woman in campus rec through preparation and relationship-building.
- Why the “two things can be true” mindset helps leaders and staff name complex emotions.
- The importance of honest, transparent communication — including comfortably saying “I don’t know.”
- What a $23 million rec center renovation taught DeAngelo about the impact small improvements can have on staff and student well-being.
Prefer to watch? Check out our YouTube channel for the video podcast.
