The Final Exam is your chance to get to know industry leaders. For the September/October 2026 issue, Campus Rec Magazine spoke with Jill Wood, the director of Campus Recreation at Northern Kentucky University.
1. How did you get started in the industry?
My path into campus recreation is similar to many others in the field. It started with a student job that unexpectedly turned into a career I genuinely love. While attending the University of Notre Dame, I began working in intramural sports and quickly found myself hooked on the energy of game nights, the excitement of competition — and most importantly — the sense of community campus recreation creates on campus. Even though my degrees were in anthropology and computer applications, I quickly realized this was the direction I wanted to pursue professionally.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I was fortunate to earn a graduate assistantship in Intramural Sports at Illinois State University. That experience was a true turning point. It gave me the opportunity to take on greater responsibility, dive deeper into the field and learn the behind-the-scenes work that makes these programs run. It also confirmed I had found a profession that wasn’t only meaningful but also genuinely enjoyable and rewarding.
2. How would you describe campus recreation at your university?
Campus Recreation at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) has become one of the true hubs of activity and connection on campus. It’s become a place where students come together to build community, prioritize wellness and create experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. The energy within our programs and facilities is something special. It plays an important role in helping students feel connected and engaged throughout their college experience.
We also take great pride in offering alumni and community memberships, which allow that sense of belonging to continue long after graduation. One of the most rewarding parts of our work is seeing former students return to the Campus Rec Center years later, often bringing their families and remaining connected to the campus community that helped shape such an important chapter of their lives.
3. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced throughout your career?
One of the biggest challenges throughout my career was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and everything that came with it. Our top priority was making sure our students, staff, and members were safe while continuing to provide opportunities for connection, wellness and engagement during a very uncertain time.
When students returned to campus, we had to quickly adapt our programs, operations and services to meet their changing needs. Even now, we continue to see students need support and development in new ways beyond just recreation, and one of our ongoing challenges is figuring out how Campus Recreation can continue to evolve to best support their overall well-being and sense of community.
4. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
One of the biggest accomplishments of my career was being part of NKU’s facility renovation and expansion project in 2015. I had the unique opportunity to be involved in multiple stages of the process — from gathering student feedback about what they wanted in a recreation center to contributing to facility design, selecting equipment, and overseeing facility operations during and after construction.
What made the experience especially rewarding was knowing we were creating something that would positively impact students for years to come. Seeing those ideas come to life and watching students fully embrace the space brought a tremendous sense of pride.
5. What is one lesson you have learned that other recreation professionals might benefit from?
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my career is the importance of finding the right people and creating opportunities for them to grow, develop and build meaningful connections. At the end of the day, the success of any department is driven by the people within it.
I’ve also learned how essential it is to cultivate a culture where new ideas are encouraged, accountability is valued and people genuinely enjoy the work they do. When staff members feel supported, challenged, and connected to their team, it creates a positive environment that extends far beyond the workplace and ultimately creates a better experience for everyone the department serves.
6. What is one fun fact about yourself that others may not know?
One thing many people don’t know about me is while attending Notre Dame, my older sister and I played women’s baseball for the South Bend Belles team in a league inspired by “A League of Their Own.” Growing up near South Bend, Indiana, we played softball and the coach invited us to try baseball. We traveled and competed against other women’s baseball teams like the Rockford Peaches, which made the experience feel incredibly special.
