The Campanella Leadership Scholarship
Katherine J. Murray, Melissa & David Rench via The Rench Family Charitable Foundation, Martha V. Shelton, and Amy & Craig Wescott via The Wescott Family Fund (“Donors”) established this scholarship endowment with The Ex-Students’ Association of The University of Texas to support students who demonstrate exceptional leadership while attending The University of Texas at Austin.
Dee Campanella earned her Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin in 1999. As a student, she was deeply involved across campus and held leadership roles in a wide range of organizations. She served as a Student Orientation Advisor, New Member Educator for Orange Jackets, Vice President of Texas Spirits, and as both a Camp Texas counselor and Executive Board member. She was also involved with Mortar Board, University Tours, Chi Omega, and the UT Dance Team. She served as the inaugural President of the Texas Exes Student Chapter and as the student representative on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her leadership was recognized with the President’s Leadership Award in 1997, given annually to just six undergraduate students, and The University of Texas Outstanding Student Award in 1998, awarded each year to just two graduating seniors for leadership, scholarship, character, and service. Dee was known for her warmth, humor, goofiness, zest for life, and strong Longhorn spirit. She valued leadership that brought people together and made others feel welcomed and included.
After graduating from UT, Dee earned a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration and a Master of Public Health in Public and Community Health from the University of Maryland. For the majority of her professional career, she worked in student affairs, primarily in residential life and housing, with additional work focused on social justice, sexual assault education, and relationship violence prevention. One of the most rewarding parts of her career was supervising employees, developing leaders, and building strong teams.
She later founded Peak Performance Fitness, LLC, a personal training and health coaching business, where she combined her background in education with her interests in fitness, behavior change, coaching, and relationship-building.
The Campanella Leadership Scholarship recognizes Longhorn students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, involvement, and commitment to the University community.