Meet the Champions: Why Campus Card Leaders Matter Now More than Ever

Meet the Champions:
Why Campus Card Leaders Matter Now More Than Ever

In higher education today, the campus card is no longer just an ID. It’s the gateway to life on campus. From residence hall access and dining services to transit systems, event check-ins, and even institutional research insights, the campus credential has become the trusted engine powering the student experience.

Behind this essential tool are campus card professionals. They are innovators who design, maintain, and continually evolve the systems that make daily life seamless, secure, and student-centered. That’s why the NACCU Campus Card Champion Award exists: to recognize those who don’t just impact the success of card services, but reimagine what’s possible with credentialing technology.

Whether through daily operational excellence, fostering collaboration, or advancing the strategic profile of the card system, this award recognizes a true campus partner. A Campus Card Champion may be anyone who has played a key role in supporting, promoting, or enhancing the campus ID program, regardless of their formal title or role within the institution.

This year, we were proud to spotlight two outstanding award recipients who exemplified this vision: Liam Gingrow from University of Pennsylvania and Sharon Webster from University at Albany.

🏆 Making Access Effortless at PENN

As Senior Business Systems Analyst at the PennCard Center, Liam operates at the intersection of campus technology and student-centered design. His work transforms the PennCard from a simple ID to a versatile access credential used across campus for sustainability, dining, and event access. Liam’s successes include that he:

• Designed a custom iPad-based kiosk system to modernize food court ordering.
• Helped track usage of reusable Green2Go containers, advancing Penn’s sustainability goals.
• Configured POS systems to support religious meal preorders and guest dining access.
• Trained student café staff on discount application systems, ensuring smooth operations run by students themselves.

Whether he’s supporting real-time access for presidential events or solving problems for Dining Services, Liam sees the campus card as a platform for innovation and ensures it delivers value every day.

🏆 Expanding What a Campus Card Can Do

With over 17 years of leadership at UAlbany, Sharon Webster has transformed her institution’s credential program into a flexible, secure, and student-first ecosystem. To Sharon, the card isn’t just a tool; it’s a connector between people, services, and systems. Successes for the Sharon and the Campus Card at UAlbany include that she:

• Championed a Mobile ID system with rotating barcodes for enhanced security.

• Enabled card-based transit access, becoming the first customer to partner with a local agency on mobile bus entry.

• Integrated card systems with community services—from printing access to free contraceptive vending.

• Leveraged card data to explore student engagement insights in partnership with institutional research.

Through it all, Sharon blends student success strategies with innovative systems thinking, always focusing on 24/7 service, convenience, and data-informed planning.

💳 Why This Work Matters: The Card is the Campus

Liam and Sharon understand what many on campus overlook: the campus card is the first key students receive, and it unlocks everything. Access to housing, meals, fitness centers, academic resources, and even a sense of belonging often begins with a tap or swipe. In today’s digital-first campus, card office professionals are building smarter systems that deliver seamless, secure, and equitable access to all aspects of student life. Their efforts quietly shape what students expect, experience, and remember.

Behind every tap, swipe, and mobile credential is a Campus Card Champion. These dedicated professionals ensure integration works smoothly, service is responsive, and systems evolve with student needs. These NACCU members reimagine what is possible and elevate the student experience every day.

---- In our next post, we will explore how campus card champions drive innovation at scale building custom tools, tackling tricky integrations, and creating solutions no vendor has thought of yet. You will walk away with real-world inspiration and ideas you can adapt to your campus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the role of a campus card professional?

A: A campus card professional manages the systems that enable students and staff to securely access campus services using ID cards or mobile credentials. They oversee credential issuance, integrate card technology with dining, housing, transportation, and other services, and collaborate across departments to ensure smooth operations. These professionals support secure, seamless, and student-focused experiences while staying current with emerging technologies in credentialing.

Q: How are campus ID professionals transforming student life?

A: Campus ID professionals are implementing mobile ID solutions, integrating student credentials with access control, dining, transit, and event systems, and using credential data to support student engagement and retention. By enabling contactless entry, digital payments, and real-time service access, they are creating a secure and seamless campus experience. Their work supports everything from mobile credential adoption to community service integration, making the campus ID a vital tool for convenience, connection, and success.

Q: Why is the campus credential considered the gateway to life on campus?

A: Campus credentials, whether physical ID cards or mobile IDs, serve as the foundation of the student experience. They provide secure access to residence halls, dining services, academic buildings, fitness centers, libraries, and campus transportation. More than just identification, these credentials are integrated with payment systems, event check-ins, and student engagement platforms. As a single trusted tool, the campus ID connects students to essential resources, supports campus safety, and enhances convenience. This makes it the gateway to daily life and a key driver of digital transformation in higher education.

Not a NACCU member? Click to join the community shaping the future of campus credentials. Become part of a network of forward-thinking professionals who are transforming the student experience every day.