Campbell Wood was brainwashed into being a Hawkeye — or that’s at least what her mom would say.

Growing up, Wood’s dad would take her to football games. His birthday cakes, office, and clothes all had the same Hawkeye theme, but even beyond the black and gold, he showed her the traditions.

“One thing he did was sit me down and show me videos of the Wave and the Dance Marathon Big Event,” Wood said. “He told me, ‘I think this is you,it’s dancing, giving back, and spending time with kids. You would love this.’ And I think I knew he was right.”

Traditions, alongside strong school spirit, downtown Iowa City, and Iowa being the number one writing school, led Wood to choose pursuing a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication on the strategic communication track with a certificate in creative writing at the UI.

Coming to campus, Dance Marathon was the first student organization Wood joined, becoming a captain her first year.

Dance Marathon is the largest student-led philanthropy and student organization on campus, with over 200 leadership members and more than 1,300 dancers. Over the course of the year, members raise money for the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital to support its fight against pediatric cancer. 

The Big Event is a 24-hour Dance Marathon where students come together to celebrate the children who have survived and remember those who have passed away. Over the years, UI’s Dance Marathon has raised over $39 million.

For Wood, however, the impact of Dance Marathon went far beyond the numbers — it gave her a sense of belonging on an unfamiliar campus.

“I didn’t really know anyone. It was a big joke for me, and I’m such a homebody. I wanted to be here, but it was also intimidating, and this gave me a community, and it was weekly meetings, and they were just the most fun people you could ever imagine,” Wood said. “Everyone in that organization just has such a zest for life.”

Following Wood’s first Big Event with Dance Marathon, she remembers the note the executive director gave her that kept her coming back.

“She said, ‘I see a strong future for you and leadership in this organization.’ I think having her believe in me meant the world. And that was where it kind of started,” Wood said.

Over the years, Wood climbed the ranks of Dance Marathon leadership, becoming a committee chair her second year, recruitment and retention director her third, and then executive director her fourth year.

Dance Marathon Assistant Director Jessie Cunningham recognized the difficulty of the executive director position and said it goes beyond just organizational skills.

“The executive director is someone who leads by example, inspires people to do more than they thought they could, and brings a lot of people together behind one mission. They also have to communicate to a wide audience and adapt constantly,” Cunningham said.

Those who worked closely with Wood say her leadership stood out for its positivity and drive. 

“Campbell is someone that always pushes for more, and she leads by example. Those are two things I’ve taken from her, knowing we can do more and we will do more, because that’s what this organization is about,” Aubrey Colemean, executive director of Dance Marathon 33, said. 

Cunningham said Wood stood out as an executive director for the way she spoke.

“When Campbell spoke, the room went silent,” Cunningham said. “She had so much heart for Dance Marathon that you could feel it every time she spoke.” 

Early on, the leadership team was already seeing signs of growth. Fundraising efforts were starting to build momentum, even as they were cautioned not to overextend before the organization’s largest fundraising push in November.

Wood attributes a culture shift that played a major role in that momentum. The focus moved toward celebrating every contribution, no matter the size, and making fundraising feel energizing rather than transactional.

Wood’s leadership experience fundamentally changed how she saw herself and the decisions she made within the organization.

“From a leadership perspective, I’ve grown in confidence,” she said. “I was such a shy person. I didn’t really go up to people, and I was always scared of what they thought of me. I’m still somewhat indecisive, but in this role I learned to make decisions.”

Looking ahead, Wood plans to continue pursuing opportunities that build on that experience, attending the Disney College Program in June.

“I love Disney, it’s so magical, but for me, Dance Marathon will always be the most magical place on earth.”