JHU has partnered with CENTERS to oversee operations of the facility
Baltimore, MD – August 7, 2025 – CENTERS, LLC has named Eve Esch as the inaugural Executive Director of the Johns Hopkins University Student Center, opening in August 2025. As one of the most anticipated facilities in the university’s history, the student center is designed to bring students together through connection, creativity, and community.
The university has partnered with CENTERS, a national management firm specializing in campus center management, to oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility. Esch, a member of the CENTERS team, will lead the student center’s launch, manage the professional and student staff, and collaborate with stakeholders and students to activate the facility on campus.
Esch brings more than two decades of leadership experience in student union management. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of the Student Centers at the University of Houston, where she managed a $15 million budget and 350,000 square feet of student-focused space. She also held key roles at The Ohio State University’s Ohio Union, where she helped open and operate a new $110 million facility.
“Eve brings the right blend of strategic experience, operational expertise, and student focus to this role,” said Jeff Sessine, Executive Vice President of CENTERS. “Her leadership will ensure the student center opens as a well-run, student-centered space that becomes an essential part of the Hopkins experience.”
“It’s a privilege to join the Hopkins community at this exciting moment,” said Eve Esch. “My goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive environment that feels like home for all Blue Jays. I’m eager to build strong relationships across campus and help the student center become a place where students feel a true sense of belonging.”
The student center will support more than 400 student organizations and provide flexible spaces for events, performances, collaboration, and day-to-day campus life. Under Esch’s leadership, and in partnership with CENTERS, the facility is poised to become the heart of student life at Johns Hopkins.
About CENTERS
CENTERS is a nationally recognized professional management firm specializing in operating campus life centers for colleges and universities. The firm manages a diverse portfolio of facilities, including recreation and wellness centers, student unions, arenas, outdoor sports complexes, performing arts venues, event and conference services, and more. CENTERS delivers mission-aligned, student-focused operations that enhance campus engagement and support institutional priorities. CENTERS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.
Learn more at www.centersusa.com.