ThunderWolf Recreation Director Sherece Alaniz Selected for Three National Campus Rec Leadership Roles

Three groups in campus recreation have invited Sherece Alaniz, director of ThunderWolf Recreation at Colorado State University Pueblo, to help lead conversations about where the field is headed.

In June 2027, Alaniz will attend the Campus Rec Leadership Summit, an invitation-only gathering of campus recreation directors and executive leaders. Participants will trade ideas and strategies on changing student expectations, staffing, tight budgets, and the growing role recreation plays in student success.

She will also appear on Director’s Download, a Campus Rec Magazine podcast about life in the director’s chair. The show features candid conversations with leaders in the industry. Alaniz will talk about her own leadership experience, the challenges and openings she sees in the field, and the work her team does at CSU Pueblo.

NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation invited her to join its Future of Campus Recreation Delphi panel. The invitation-only panel brings together a select group of professionals to identify and evaluate the issues most likely to shape the field. NIRSA’s Board and leadership will use the findings to plan for the future of collegiate recreation.

“Being selected for these opportunities is both an honor and a reminder of why I am so passionate about the work we do in campus recreation,” Alaniz said. “Leadership is about more than the position we hold. It is about the positive impact we have on the students and community we serve and the opportunities we create for others to grow.”

She plans to bring what she learns back to campus. “I am excited to learn from leaders across the industry, share my own experiences, and bring new perspectives and innovative ideas back to CSU Pueblo,” she said. “My hope is to continue building a recreation environment where our students and staff feel supported, empowered, and inspired to become more.”