Root Appointed Executive Director

The National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jameson Root, CAE, as Executive Director, effective May 1.

Jameson has served as Interim Executive Director since August 2025, guiding the organization through a period of transition while maintaining strong momentum across its programs, partnerships, and strategic priorities. He has worked closely with the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to advance key initiatives, including the development of a new three-year strategic plan focused on reimagining conferences, launching local experiences, strengthening professional development, and deepening the Association’s impact on student belonging, retention, and success.

“Jameson has demonstrated a deep understanding of NACA’s mission and a clear vision for its future,” said Alicia Bates, Ed.D., 2025–2026 Chair of the NACA Board of Directors. “His leadership during this transition period has been thoughtful, strategic, and grounded in the needs of our members. The Board conducted a formal confirmation process, which included interviews with Board members and a volunteer review team, as well as input from staff. It was clear that Jameson was the right person to lead NACA into its next chapter and the Board is confident in his ability to guide the Association forward.”

Jameson brings nearly two decades of experience spanning higher education and association leadership. His professional background includes leadership roles on college campuses and within international nonprofit organizations, as well as contract work with a national speaking agency. This combination of experiences gives him an informed perspective on the full ecosystem of Campus Activities, including the students, institutions, and associate and affiliate members whose talents, products, and services bring campus engagement to life.

Prior to his interim appointment, Jameson served as NACA’s Chief Operations Officer, where he led education and research, member services, marketing and communications, and technology. In that role, he helped drive innovation in member offerings, including the development of The Case for Campus Activities and other resources designed to better articulate and measure the impact of campus engagement. He also expanded sponsorship revenue, strengthened relationships with associate and affiliate members, and led the Association’s digital transformation efforts.

Before joining NACA in 2019, Jameson held senior leadership roles with Kiwanis International, overseeing a portfolio of global youth and collegiate organizations serving more than 350,000 members across 34 countries. He also held campus-based roles at both public and private institutions, supporting student leadership, fraternity and sorority life, large-scale programming, residential life, and co-curricular development. He holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential and earned his Master of Education in Higher Education from Harvard University and his Bachelor of Science in Management from Case Western Reserve University.

“I am honored to serve NACA and its members in this role,” said Root. “My career has been shaped by the power of campus experiences and belonging, whether on a college campus, through international organizations, or in partnership with the professionals and performers who bring those experiences to life. Our Association sits at the intersection of those relationships, and that is where our strength lies. As we look ahead, we have an opportunity to continue telling that story more effectively, ensuring that everyone involved in Campus Activities is recognized as essential to student success and institutional impact.”

As Executive Director, Jameson will serve as chief staff officer to both the Association and NACA Foundation, working in partnership with members, volunteers, and staff to evolve programs and services in response to the changing landscape of campus life and higher education. He will continue to build on the Association’s momentum, with a strong focus on advancing NACA’s role as an advocate for the entire Campus Activities field. Through ongoing work connected to The Case for Campus Activities, the Association is committed to advancing the essential role of its members in creating college communities where everyone belongs.