Latina Leader on the Field

Rosemary Lopez Campbell, Entertainment Production Coordinator

Washington Commanders 

“I have to remind myself how big of an impact we’re making here,” shares Rosemary Lopez Campbell, Entertainment Production Coordinator with the Washington Commanders and proud daughter of immigrants from El Salvador. “The sacrifices that my parents made to be here in this country it makes me feel like I’m making them proud.”

When Lopez Campbell walks into Northwest Stadium as an Entertainment Production Coordinator for the Washington Commanders, she’s not just thinking about the game. She’s thinking about family, community, and every Latina who might see a piece of herself in her story.

Her journey wasn’t linear, and it certainly wasn’t easy. But it is powerful, deeply human, and a testament to what happens when you mix hard work, cultural pride, and unshakeable belief in yourself.

Her journey into the sports industry began at the University of Maryland, where she earned her degree in kinesiology and quickly realized she had a passion for sports and a talent for event planning. As the older sibling who was constantly organizing and planning activities for everyone, she knew she wanted a career that combined sports and events. As a first-generation college student, she had to figure it all out on her own, which she shares was very challenging. That changed when she joined Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated, which quickly became both a support system and a source of strength for her.

“That was the best decision I made in college,” she shares. “I found other Latinas like me. We’re first-generation students who want a higher education, and we were figuring out how to navigate college life.”

Her story reflects a reality many Latinas know well. They are not going to college for themselves; they are blazing a trail for their entire family and the next generation of Latinas. 

Graduating in 2011, Lopez Campbell entered a shaky economy and a difficult job market. At the time, she took a job at Abercrombie & Fitch, starting part-time and working her way up to store manager. It wasn’t what she had studied, but she chose to learn everything she could anyway.

And that detour became her doorway. While working there, she met someone who worked part-time with the Washington Commanders organization on the entertainment side. This person encouraged her to join the team, telling her they needed more diversity and that she would be a great asset. 

In 2013, Lopez Campbell joined the Washington Commanders as part of their ambassador team, working part-time in sports while still holding other jobs. Her full-time role didn’t open until 2022, almost nine years later, and after being involved with the organization for 10 seasons. In her role, she helps support and execute live, pregame, and in‑game entertainment productions that elevate the fan experience, while being a point of contact between departments, vendors, and talent.

Her advice to young Latinas and women in sports comes from lived experience. Especially that patience. 

“My full-time job didn’t open until 2022,” she shares. “Never compare yourself to anyone else. Everybody’s journey is different. Be patient, because eventually it does come.”

As a Latina in spaces where she’s often one of the few, she has felt the pressure to overperform and constantly prove herself. Yet instead of letting that pressure shrink her, she uses it as fuel to show up, to excel, and to open doors for others coming behind her.

“Being a minority, specifically Latina, I felt like I had to show that I’m just as good as everybody else,” she shares. “You have to be mindful of what you do because people are always watching.”

For Lopez Campbell, success isn’t about personal achievement; it’s about representation and community impact. Overall, she is bringing culture to the field. 

She serves as treasurer for SOMOS Commanders, the team’s Hispanic/Latino employee resource group, now entering her fourth season in that role. This role allows her to give back to the organization while supporting and uplifting the Latin community.

“This is a space where we are proud to be who we are, and celebrate our culture,” she shares. “This is our chance to make an impact and integrate it on game days.”

From Hispanic Heritage features to Taste of Latin America events, she helps bring Latino stories and flavors into the stadium experience for fans, staff, coaches, and players.

One of her proudest accomplishments was spotlighting Josué Martinez of Corinto Gallery, a small business owner from El Salvador whose retail line appears in the team store during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Josue and his wife are from El Salvador, and they are great members of the community,” she shares. “This spotlight brought all of the departments together, and this moment was really huge for him and for us, for everybody.”

These are the kinds of moments that change what fans see and who they can imagine themselves becoming.

Game days may look glamorous from the stands, but she shares that her job is year-round and behind the scenes. It’s a full-time role with no real off-season that comes down to three phases: brainstorming, planning, and then execution.

On game days, she is in the thick of the fan experience. From the pregame show at the Legends Plaza Main Stage to coordinating logistics and pregame show elements such as the national anthem flyovers. 

“Something that never gets old to me is being part of the national anthem flag experience group,” she shares. “Being part of that moment and executing it with our team, I think those are the moments that I realize that this is the coolest job ever.”

Her bilingual skills also become a powerful professional asset, especially during international or Latino-focused events. She and her team worked on a France versus Colombia soccer match, and everything was in Spanish. For her, being able to communicate with the artists, managers, and fans in that environment was really important. 

“Not everyone could do that,” she shares. “So it became a real asset to the team.”

Ask Lopez Campbell who her role models are, and she doesn’t hesitate to say her father and her sorority sisters. 

“My dad, Jaime, is the true definition of the American dream,” she shares.  “He came to this country with nothing, unable to speak the language, and he worked hard to start a business. He is very successful.  Anytime I wanted to do something, he would say, ‘You can do anything that you want. There’s no excuse.’”

She sees that same kind of determination in her siblings and in the next generation, like her younger sister transferring to Maryland and thinking about joining the same sorority, and her brother, who moved to Tampa for a marketing career.

Now, as a mother to a two-year-old daughter, she has yet another reason to keep pushing.

“Cami (Camilla) just wants to do everything that I do,” she shares. “I love that she’s my best friend. She’s definitely changed my life in a good way.”

Balancing motherhood and a demanding role in sports is not easy.

“It almost seems like you have no hours in the day for anything,” she shares. “But you push through. You learn a lot about yourself. I’ve definitely grown a lot just being a mom and trying to balance everything.”

What makes it possible, she says, is time management and a strong support system that includes her husband, Lucas; mother, Maria; sister, Veronica; and a trusted mom network.

From the concourses of an NFL stadium to the quiet moments at home with her daughter, Lopez Campbell is proof that success is not about a straight line; it’s about showing up, staying proud of who you are, and bringing others with you as you rise. For her, success isn’t a job title or a salary band. Success means waking up and being happy.

“You’re happy with your job, you’re happy with what you’re doing,” she shares. “Success, it’s just being at peace and being happy with what you’re doing.”

She knows that Latinas in sports are still underrepresented, but she’s hopeful and intentional.

“I know we still have a lot of work left to do, but for Latinas in the sports industry, I feel like we’re heading in a good direction,” she shares. “Having a seat at the table can be challenging, but it’s worth it in the long run. Remind yourself that you’re just as good as everyone else. I’m hoping that in the next 10 years, we’ll see more Latinas in the sports industry. Network. You never know where it’s going to take you.”