Each year, one of the most impactful aspects of the Campus Rec Leadership Summit is the rich education that comes from curated roundtable discussions.
Next year’s event in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, will feature topics chosen to help attendees connect with peers facing similar challenges and explore ways to grow as leaders. Each roundtable goes beyond the surface of leadership challenges and leaves leaders with actionable takeaways to implement in their departments.
The Summit’s education structure is unique — four in-depth roundtables help leaders avoid the distraction of running between sessions and connect more intentionally with a small group of other directors who have a similar desire to learn.
“Unlike massive, overwhelming conferences, the Summit allowed for thoughtful roundtable discussions,” said Tom St. John, the director of Campus Recreation at Binghamton University and an attendee of the 2026 Summit. “It wasn’t just people presenting at me; it was peer-to-peer sharing and problem-solving. As year 18 approaches, I was fortunate to expand my network to include ‘newer’ directors and more seasoned directors.”
Below, explore the four roundtable topics that will be featured in the 2027 Summit.
Advocating for Your Department: Leveraging Innovation to Prove Impact Through Assessment and Storytelling
Campus rec teams are increasingly asked to prove their impact to upper administration and showcase value. As a result, many leaders are finding innovative ways to leverage the use of this data to advocate for their department, receive higher budgets and expand resources. This conversation will explore the specific data teams are using to demonstrate value, how those metrics can be turned into compelling stories to connect recreation to institutional priorities, successful initiatives that have translated into additional funding or resources, and more.
Finding Staffing Success Through Changing Models and Nontraditional Pathways
From student staff graduating to professional employees moving up or out, departments are constantly working to find new team members to learn, grow and lead. In this roundtable, attendees will discuss how staffing models are evolving, how leaders are finding staffing success, and what meaningful onboarding and off-boarding looks like. Hiring approaches and assumptions have changed throughout the years, so this discussion will give leaders the chance to discuss how to meet shifting needs and demands from potential hires and current teams.
Leading Through Change: Values-Based Leadership in Uncertain Times
This discussion will focus on the importance of strong leadership through times of change and uncertainty. Whether it’s staff turnover, facility construction or broader concerns around higher education, having a strong foundation of core values through these times of uncertainty helps leaders anchor their leadership to the department culture and be an example for teams. Attendees will reflect on their values and the role they play, and explore how leaders can maintain culture during seasons of change.
Moving Forward: What Campus Rec Leaders and Teams Need for Success
Student expectations, evolving trends and institutional priorities make campus rec a field of constant innovation. The future of the industry may be less about predicting exactly what comes next and more about building a foundation that’s capable of responding to whatever it may be. In this conversation, attendees will look at the trends and demand that could shape the next five years of campus rec and identify steps teams can take today to prepare.
Spots are full for the 2027 Campus Rec Leadership Summit, but anyone interested in joining the waitlist can email gracie@peakemedia.com to learn more. Interested in sponsoring? Email rico@peakemedia.com. For the full itinerary and details, visit peakemediaevents.com/crsummit/.
Thank you to our current 2027 sponsors for making next year’s event possible, including Premier sponsor SportsArt; Diamond sponsors Arly, Brock, EGYM, InBody, Keiser, Matrix Fitness, PLAE and WellnessSpace Brands; Platinum Plus sponsors Ecore Athletic, Junkers, Life Fitness/Hammer Strength, Sasaki, TinyMobileRobots; and Platinum sponsors CannonDesign, Fitness Machine Technicians, Fusion, Human Touch, Paddock Pool Equipment Company, Sourcewell and Trooh.
