Camille Filardo-Kraft, G'91, EdD - Distinguished Alumna Award
Camille Filardo-Kraft, G'91, EdD - Distinguished Alumna Award.
Camille Filardo-Kraft, G'91, EdD - Distinguished Alumna Award
For Camille Filardo-Kraft, G’91, EdD, earning her master’s degree in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College was a pivotal step in solidifying her core competencies. She has proven to be a dedicated leader with excellent interpersonal skills throughout her two-decade career in collegiate athletics and student development.
Her experiences at Springfield College only deepened her commitment to supporting student-athletes through a holistic, mission-driven education, blending academic rigor with compassionate mentorship. Filardo-Kraft’s degree in Athletic Counseling laid the foundation for her work in compliance, student services, and leadership development across multiple institutions.
As the current founder and chief executive officer for Student Athlete Sashes, she has remained committed to making custom graduation sashes for student-athletes since 2002. Student Athlete Sashes is a leading provider of custom graduation sashes for student-athletes celebrating their greatest accomplishment, graduation day.
As a former student-athlete, Filardo-Kraft is deeply aware of the effort it takes to balance life and sport. In 2023, Student Athlete Sashes proudly marked 25 years of honoring and celebrating thousands of student-athletes nationwide—from high schools to two-year and four-year colleges—through meaningful recognition and shared traditions. Filardo-Kraft continues to mentor elite athletes as she serves on the board of Pro Athletes in Recovery, a group that helps other professional athletes find addiction treatment and recovery resources. Filardo-Kraft remains committed to leading, serving, and uplifting others.
In addition to leading the efforts for the inception of Student Athlete Sashes, Filardo-Kraft has served as an associate athletic director, senior woman administrator, compliance coordinator, Title IX deputy, dean, and adjunct professor.
From 2015 through 2017, Filardo-Kraft became the chief executive officer of ERM and served as administrator of the National Football League’s Substance Abuse Program. Filardo-Kraft worked in concert with the NFL Management Council, NFL Players Association, NFL Steroid Program, NFL Testing Program, and NFL Financial Office on a daily basis. During her tenure, she established a working knowledge of the NFL’s Substance of Abuse Program Policy by supporting the medical director in all aspects, including supporting case managers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and all staff members. Filardo-Kraft developed relationships with the Program’s inpatient and outpatient facilities to ease each admission and discharge while maintaining constant communication to help the medical director assess the player’s diagnosis and progress.
Following her time with the NFL, Filardo-Kraft was appointed as the commissioner of the National Women’s Football Conference from 2020 to 2021, where she immediately evaluated and restructured the WNFC constitution to meet professional standards. Kraft oversaw all staff and coaches’ meetings, evaluated officiating, and developed a tracking system with the intent of securing safety for all players.
In 2022, Filardo-Kraft returned to Alden Street as the 26th annual Weckwerth Lecture guest speaker. Her talk focused on the impact of women trailblazers in sport.
Camille and her spouse, Jerry, are parents to Gracie Rose, who is 12 years old. They reside on 2.5 acres in Temecula wine country in California. Camille stays active by belonging to the 100-mile swim club, averaging 200-300 swimming miles per year.
Response from Camille Filardo-Kraft, G'91, EdD
Receiving the 2025 Distinguished Alumna Award is a profound honor and a deeply meaningful affirmation of my life’s work. It is also a tribute to my husband, family, mentors, students, and colleagues who have shaped my path. I am sincerely humbled by this recognition from the institution that so fundamentally influenced my journey.
It’s true what they say: you may not remember names or faces, but you always remember how you were treated. That sentiment rings especially true for me—it’s what set the trajectory of my life.
It was the secretary of the Psychology Department at Westmont College (a former Springfield employee) who said to me, “Camille, you love psychology and you love sports. You should apply to Springfield College—I think you would love it.” For someone who had sworn off school after attending an academically rigorous private Christian college as a student-athlete, you’d think I would have dismissed the idea. I’m forever grateful that I didn’t.
That fall, I enrolled in Springfield College’s Athletic Counseling program—and you know what? Everyone was right. I loved my time at Springfield. I vividly recall my first day walking onto campus and seeing everyone outfitted in athletic gear—I was amazed. Later that day, I sat in Dr. Champagne’s class before it began, and she was chatting with students about upcoming games and competitions. I nearly fell off my seat. I had never witnessed such a conversation between faculty and students. I knew immediately that I was home.
During my time at Springfield, I lifeguarded on campus, became Dr. Petitpas’ graduate assistant, wrote a thesis, and helped coordinate a national conference. Each day, he addressed me as “Dr. Filardo,” to which I would roll my eyes at the absurdity of the idea. Meanwhile, I soaked in courses from Dr. Murray ’61, G’67, and Dr. Paar ’72—lessons I can still recite. And of course there was Dr. Cox, who always greeted me with a smile so warm it could melt chocolate on a snowy day. In my second year, Dr. Van Raalte joined the faculty and took us apple picking. SC was a family away from family, which meant everything to this Southern California kid.
Over the years, Springfield College—along with my faith, family, and friends—molded my career and helped me reach far beyond my limited vision of what was possible. Professionally, I’ve served as an associate athletic director, senior woman administrator, compliance coordinator, Title IX deputy, dean, and adjunct professor, all while founding Student Athlete Sashes. Additionally, I became CEO of ERM, overseeing the NFL’s Substance Abuse Program as Dr. Camille Filardo-Kraft. Today, as Student Athlete Sashes celebrates its 25th year, I continue to mentor elite athletes, serve on the board of Pro Athletes in Recovery, and pursue research—all while remaining committed to leading, serving, and uplifting others.
And so, I carry deep gratitude for the village of people who saw something in me—something I had not yet recognized in myself. They inherently knew that I would soak in the SC way and reap the rewards of my time spent here on Alden Street.
