Lesley

Dan Campagna joined Lesley University in August of 2023 as Director of Athletics, leading the Lynx staff in its mission to provide a transformative experience in competiton, the classroom and beyond.

Campagna makes the move across the river becoming Lesley’s fifth AD following a 12-year stint at Emmanuel College, his alma mater, where he served in several roles ranging from Senior Assistant Athletic Director, Compliance Officer, Director of Athletic Communications, Women’s Soccer Head Coach, Sports Information Director and Adjunct Faculty Professor. He takes over the Lynx helm from Stephanie Smyrl who served in the role for six years before departing for the same position at Emerson College. 

Campagna was a part of the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) SID Staff of the Year, bestowed to the Emmanuel SID office for the 2021-22 academic year. A member of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) (formerly College Sports Information Directors of America - CoSIDA), he was also named a 2020-21 CoSIDA District 1 Fred Stabley, Sr. Writing Contest winner for the feature story he wrote titled Breaking Barriers and Ankles with Jamad Fiin in the category of Social Justice/Diversity & Inclusion. The contest recognizes excellence in feature writing, historical features, administrator/coach profiles and event coverage. 

A panel of industry experts selected Campagna a member of the Sports 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) annual convention. This honor, sponsored by Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, is reserved exclusively for outstanding young industry professionals who are demonstrating exceptional commitment to their sport(s), innovation and industry leadership within the high school, collegiate, professional and industry athletic professions. Dan was the only male professional selected among the collegiate ranks in 2019. 

Campagna, a native of Somers, Connecticut, graduated magna cum laude, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English Communications from Emmanuel in 2007. He earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts - Boston in June of 2011. While pursuing his graduate degree, Campagna worked at UMass Boston, as both a Graduate Assistant and later the Interim Director of Sports Information for the Beacons directing the sports information efforts for the Beacons' 18 varsity athletic teams. He also served as an Assistant Coach to the Women’s Soccer program for eight seasons at UMB, helping the program capture its first Little East Conference (LEC) Championship in 2012. 

In addition to his full-time duties at Emmanuel, Campagna also served as a Head Coach to the Emmanuel Women's Soccer program and was voted the 2017 GNAC Coach of the Year by his fellow coaching peers in his only season at the helm of the program. Following the one-year stint as Head Coach, Campagna remained on the staff for five seasons while retaining his full-time responsibilities with the department, coaching a total of 15 GNAC All-Conference players including four Major Award Winners, three All-Region players and one CoSIDA Academic All-American over five years and four playing seasons. 

At Emmanuel, Campagna was a three-time GNAC Academic All-Conference selection and received the Emmanuel College Athletic Department's Senior Leadership Award in 2007. He was a four-year standout on the Men’s Soccer program and also competed on the Men's Volleyball and Indoor Track & Field squads, as well as the Baseball club team.