Following a competitive national search, Amy Lanham has been named director of Campus Recreation at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Lanham most recently served as the senior associate director bringing more than 20 years of experience in collegiate recreation. Her experiences include fiscal and personnel management, as well as recreational programming and facility management of approximately 400,000 square feet indoors and more than 170 acres of outdoor recreational space.
From her time as a student employee at Campus Recreation, Lanham established her love for collegiate recreation. She stepped into the Campus Recreation Center the summer before her junior year, interested in an on-campus student employment role and quickly learned more about working in recreation that resulted in overhauling her career goals.
“The rec center seemed like it would be a fun place to work and they were very accommodating and supportive of my student schedule,” Lanham said. “I was taking physics 141 and 142 for the summer, where I knew I was going to be on campus pretty much all day Monday through Friday, and wanted an on-campus job. As time went on, the thing I learned to love most about collegiate recreation is that it’s a ‘get to’ not a ‘have to.’
“Everyone has the same number of minutes in the day to use, and for someone to prioritize spending time with Campus Recreation is huge. I want to create spaces that contribute to the best part of someone’s day.”
Lanham’s leadership will follow the retirement of Stan Campbell, who served as the director of Campus Recreation for 39 years.
“Amy is a dynamic leader dedicated to providing student-centered experiences that enhance the academic mission of the university,” said Laurie Bellows, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “She brings positive energy and is mindful of the ways in which Campus Recreation serves all members of the campus community. I’m thrilled that she has accepted this role and look forward to the great things to come from Campus Recreation under her leadership.”
