UNF graduate student turns a passion for gaming into a career helping build UNF Esports

For Claire Campo, esports has always been about more than competition. What began as a childhood pastime playing Call of Duty with her younger brother has evolved into a career path, a research focus and a mission to help establish the University of North Florida as a leader in collegiate esports. 

A recent graduate of UNF's sport management program, she is helping build one of the university's newest and fastest-growing initiatives as the assistant program manager for UNF Esports. In this role, she helps oversee daily arena operations in the UNF Flight Deck Esports & Innovation Arena, coordinates external events and manages the varsity Call of Duty team. She is also pursuing a master's degree in higher education administration with a concentration in collegiate athletics. 

Born in New York and raised in Orange County, California, Campo grew up in a sports-loving family. 

"Being from New York, my whole family, we’re all Yankees fans and New York Giants fans," said Campo. "I definitely grew up in a sports household." 

Although she initially enrolled at John Jay College of Criminal Justice with plans to become a lawyer like her father and grandfather, she realized her true interests lay elsewhere. After taking time away from school and moving to Florida, she began searching for a career aligned with her passions. 

When she decided to return to school, sports provided direction. 

"I wanted to do something that I was truly passionate about," said Campo. "Sports was something that I always loved, whether it was traditional sports or esports." 

After earning an associate’s degree from Daytona State College, Campo enrolled at UNF in fall 2024 and graduated summa cum laude in spring 2026 with a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in leadership. 

A mentor's guidance opens the door 

One of the most influential figures in Campo's UNF journey has been Dr. Elizabeth Gregg, professor of sport management. Campo first met Gregg in an introductory sport management course shortly after arriving at UNF. 

As a nontraditional student returning to college in her mid-20s, Campo admitted she was nervous about starting over. She said Gregg quickly recognized her potential and invited her to collaborate on a research project focused on women's sport consumption. 

"I was like, 'Oh wow, that's really cool that somebody sees that I have potential,'" Campo said. 

Their research, which continues today as the pair work toward publication, explores why women do not consistently watch women's sports. The project led to a presentation in Budapest, Hungary, at the European Association for Sport Management conference in fall 2025. They also presented domestically at the 2025 Sport Marketing Association annual conference.  

Gregg's mentorship would eventually influence another pivotal moment in Campo's career. 

Last summer, while watching the Esports World Cup, Campo was captivated by the event's nearly $70 million prize pool. 

When she shared her excitement with Gregg, the professor connected her with an emerging esports initiative being developed by UNF ITS and informed her that they were looking for a student intern to join the team.  

Campo credits Gregg's mentorship for both her research opportunities and her involvement with UNF Esports. 

"All the opportunities I’ve had, not just to do research, but with esports, would not have happened without her," said Campo. "She's been a better mentor than I could have ever asked for." 

Gregg said Campo’s inquisitive nature, contributions to class discussions and interest in undergraduate research made her stand out among her peers. According to Gregg, those traits have helped Campo succeed in her current role. 

“Claire has moved the needle with UNF Esports,” said Gregg. “She is a very smart, hardworking professional, and it has been wonderful to watch her excel at UNF.” 

Now, Campo, Gregg and Tom Screech, UNF Esports program manager, are preparing to launch esports-focused research projects examining an emerging field with significant growth potential. 

Helping to build UNF’s esports program 

Starting as an undergraduate assistant, Campo joined UNF Esports before the Flight Deck opened its doors in February of this year. She spent months helping establish operational processes, networking with peer institutions and learning what it takes to build a successful collegiate esports program. 

Her contributions have garnered high praise from ITS leadership. 

"What has impressed me most about Claire is how seamlessly she transitioned from getting involved to becoming an indispensable pillar of UNF Esports,” said Chris Petrello, associate vice president of campus technology services. “Watching her step up to shape the culture and execution of this program from day one has been remarkable.” 

This month marks Campo’s one-year anniversary with the program. 

What began as a new initiative has quickly grown into one of UNF’s fastest-growing student engagement programs. 

Just one month into the fall 2026 semester, the Flight Deck has already welcomed more than 3,000 visitors. From hosting events during the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) National Convention in July to building partnerships with global brands such as Riot Games and Red Bull, UNF Esports is gaining recognition as a rising force within the collegiate esports landscape. 

The program’s weekly live streams and tournament events are attracting large audiences. Earlier this month, Campo managed an Elite Warfare Gaming League Call of Duty tournament that accumulated more than 100,000 views on Twitch. 

A full-circle moment 

Since being promoted to assistant program manager following her graduation in May, her responsibilities have expanded dramatically. 

"This whole year has easily been one of the best years of my life," Campo said. 

In addition to her standard duties, Campo is especially excited to manage the Call of Duty varsity team, which includes her younger brother Ryan Campo. 

The franchise has played a major role in both siblings’ lives since they bonded over the game as children.  

"It's kind of like a full-circle moment," she said.  

The connection is especially meaningful for someone who once told program leaders during her initial interview that her dream esports role would be managing a Call of Duty team, and now that dream is being realized. 

Looking ahead 

While Campo's current focus remains growing the esports program, her long-term ambitions extend even further. 

After earning her master's degree, she plans to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at UNF and continue working within collegiate esports and higher education. 

She also has bold goals for the esports program's future. 

"Right now, I'm very, very focused on my goal, which is to make UNF the premier Call of Duty school in the country and the premier esports school in the country," Campo said. 

For Campo, the journey is just beginning. 

"UNF really has changed my life," she said. "I never expected any of this — I’ve found community and a career I never knew existed."