By: @jonnystrube0
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - When Jesse Campbell (B.S. '17, M.B.A. '19) stepped onto Cornerstone University's campus in 2013 as a student, he probably didn't think he would be there for another ten years. But Campbell, always trusting where God leads, took each opportunity as it came, ending up in the role of assistant athletic director for communication and marketing. In January 2024, his time at Cornerstone will come to a close, as he has accepted the role of director of communication at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in Greenville, S.C.
"So often God intervenes in ways you never expect," Campbell said as he reflected on his time at CU. "I learned to walk on an NCCAA basketball court as a kid at Grace Christian University and that started my love for sports."
Campbell studied sports management and communications at Cornerstone. While questioning what he wanted his future to look like, he wandered into the Bernice Hansen Athletic Center. The athletic director at the time connected him with Aaron Sagraves, current athletic director at CU, who ended up becoming an integral part of Campell's story. "When I first met Jesse, he was as eager as a student that had ever walked into my office before," Sagraves reflected. "He just wanted to help and serve the student athletes and coaches! His passion for people and relationships was something that immediately stood out and then his work ethic on top of that made him a great fit for what he eventually would go on to accomplish."
Since then, Campbell has been a familiar face to all around campus. He spent the next three years being mentored by Sagraves, who hired him as the first athletics graduate assistant in sports information. In 2019, when Sagraves became athletic director, Campbell was promoted to athletic communications. God has used Campbell to create a wake of blessing, not only on Cornerstone's campus, but far beyond.
"It's cool to see so many of my former student workers who are now full-time sports information workers, photographers, social media managers, and graphic designers for a multitude of different companies," Campbell said. Over time, he built a base of over 20 student workers a year to manage sports information for the university. With 20 different sports programs on campus, that sort of workforce has become vital to CU.
During the 2021-22 academic year, Campbell was awarded SID of the year by the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), a testament to his hard work in athletics marketing and the effort he put into building it up. "Jesse's massive efforts over the years have elevated our athletic department to new heights that would not have been achieved without him," said Chuck Lowitzki, head coach for CU's baseball program. "As new sports and new coaches have been added to our department with different needs and requests, Jesse has found ways to meet every need while going above and beyond to serve our student-athletes. His flexibility and thirst for increased knowledge have positioned our teams better in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics."
While Campbell is deeply grateful for his time at Cornerstone, he has felt God moving him toward a new chapter—one where he will once again be able to bless the world of sports information and influence college athletics for Christ.
"While I loved my time at Cornerstone, I am excited to use the lessons God has taught me through my student and professional experience at CU and be a disciple of Christ in a new way at a national level," Campbell said. "I am grateful for everyone at Cornerstone and what they have provided for me, and grateful for the NCCAA staff believing in me as a person and employee to move into this new adventure."
