2026 Annual Meeting of Members

Pam Watts is the Executive Director for NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation. A former CPA, Pam joined NIRSA in 2000, and in her tenure with the Association, she served primarily as NIRSA's second-in-command until assuming the Executive Directorship in early 2012. She works closely with the NIRSA Boards to actuate the strategic plan for NIRSA and its three subsidiaries and leads the staff team and operations at NIRSA.

Pam is a Certified Association Executive. She served as the Chair of the Council for Higher Education Management Association’s Steering Committee, on the Advisory Council for the Healthy Campus Initiative in the University of California System, and on the Advisory Board for the Institute for Wellbeing at Butler University. She has served on the Physical Activity Alliance Board as Treasurer and then President for 10 years. She currently serves on the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification Board and on the American Council on Exercise Board.

Lashica Thomas is serving as the NIRSA Board President for the 2025-2026 NIRSA leadership year and is currently the Director of Campus Recreation at Columbus State University in Georgia, part of NIRSA Region II. She first joined NIRSA in 2003 and throughout her career she's been involved with the Association through many different volunteer roles during her two decades of membership with this historic association!

Lashica's tenure on the NIRSA Board began in 2023, shortly after members elected her to serve on the Presidential Track—a three-year commitment—and will culminate in this capstone year of service. As your NIRSA President, Lashica will be sharing periodic insights about the direction and impact of our profession. She was recognized in 2019 for her role in building a diverse and inclusive culture in our Association by fostering equality of opportunity, encouraging diverse perspectives, and creating a welcoming and supportive climate when she received the Juliette Moore People of Color Distinguished Leadership Award.

A proud advocate for access, equity, and empowerment through recreation, Holmes has risen through the ranks of recreation departments across the country and serves as a thoughtful leader who uplifts teams, streamlines operations, and builds sustainable programs. Holmes’ influence extends far beyond the boundaries of a single campus. A recognized and dedicated leader within NIRSA, she serves as President of the NIRSA Services Corporation Board and co-leads the Black Community Caucus. Her written and spoken contributions on social justice, volunteerism, and the evolving role of recreation professionals have been featured in national publications and at conferences across the country. From launching new initiatives to elevating strategic partnerships, Holmes is driven by the guiding principle: recreation is a catalyst for connection, belonging, and growth.

Erik Jaeke currently serves as a Director with Recreation & Wellbeing at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Originally hailing from Colorado, and working professionally in Iowa, Virginia, and Arizona, Erik brings a diverse skillset across all facets of campus recreation to his current role. Erik sits on the NIRSA Services Corporation Board of Directors, the NIRSA Sports Network Board of Directors, and NASO’s Officials’ Development Alliance Board of Directors. Prior to retiring from refereeing in 2023, Erik worked as a collegiate soccer referee in the Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic 10 conferences, and served as NIRSA’s Director of Officials and Director of Competition at their National Collegiate Club Soccer Championships. Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Administration from Fort Lewis College (2006) and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Drake University (2008).