Rob Woodcox, a graduate of the WCC photography program, produced a major photo campaign for Nike and SKIMS, snapping images of 57 female athletes in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Photo courtesy of Phase One/Instagram)
As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
Rob Woodcox, a 2012 graduate of Washtenaw Community College’s photography program, recently produced a major global photography campaign for Nike in collaboration with the SKIMS apparel brand, showcasing some of the world’s top athletes and redefining visual storytelling in commercial photography.
The “Bodies at Work” campaign, shot at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,
features dynamic stills and motion sequences of 57 female athletes, from collegiate
standouts to Nike icons, captured in compositions that celebrate movement, strength
and connection.
In a recent article highlighting the project by Phase One, a manufacturer of high-end professional camera systems, Woodcox credited his time at WCC as the foundation for his success.
“I enjoyed seeing people’s reactions when I took their portrait and shared it with them,” Woodcox said of his early days exploring photography. “I had an intuition that I needed to go to a photography school, and I was lucky to discover Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, near where I grew up.”
The Detroit native said the college offered “a state-of-the-art photography program despite being a very affordable school in the United States. I’m so glad I trusted my intuition.”
At WCC, Woodcox immersed himself fully in both the technical and creative sides of photography.
“I dived into it with my whole heart and soul, practiced with film and digital cameras practically every day until I felt I had begun to truly understand the technology,” he said.
Woodcox also credited WCC faculty with shaping his artistic perspective.
“I had incredible teachers, like Don Werthmann, who imparted great wisdom upon me,” Woodcox said. “The spiritual and conceptual journey has been a much longer one. I guess that journey will consume my entire life.”
The Nike × SKIMS visuals have been displayed internationally on screens, billboards, and online campaigns, bringing Woodcox’s vision — and the creative foundation he developed at WCC — to a global audience.
His work demonstrates the potential of a community college program to prepare students for careers at the highest levels of professional photography.
Tags: 60 Stories, Alumna Profile, Digital Photography, March 2026, On The Record, Photography