Melanie Black

Melanie is majoring in Holistic Health and Agriculture with an emphasis on yoga. She grew up in Centerville, MA where she was very involved in sports such as field hockey and singing in various groups in high school. At UMass, Melanie is a member of the co-ed a capella group, the Dynamics. Her yoga practice developed in college when she began taking classes at UMass with Eric Burri. In May 2010, she received her yoga instructor certification from the Yandara Yoga Institute in Todos Santos, Mexico and has since taught classes through the Centerville Yoga and Wellness Center and also around Southwest residential area through RA wellness programs. She likes to teach music-infused, strength-building and energizing classes that focus on breathing with a flow of postures and her students personal practice.

Ivana Bologna

Ivana is a member of the class of 2014. She transferred to UMass during the fall 2010 semester from a college in New York. Ivana's passion and background is Latin ballroom dancing. Ivana is a member of the Ballroom Team here at UMass. The jive, cha-cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble are latin routines incorporated into the class that are sure to give you a great workout. Ivana also enjoys playing the piano, singing and cooking.

Kellie Bowe

Kellie plans to double-major in Early Childhood Education and Communications. Seventeen years ago she began her dancing career and developed a lifelong passion for performing and keeping in shape. She received her Zumba certification last May after taking various classes at the Recreation Center. Kellie believes that certain dance techniques can really sculpt and tone your body. She teaches box ballet, an exciting hardcore toning class that combines basic ballet movements with intense kickboxing moves; ballazz, a fun combo class of ballet and jazz for people who desire choreography and want to strengthen their dancing capabilities; and dance conditioning, a straight-to-the-point workout that whips your butt, abs, legs and arms into shape. Kellie loves fitness and the feeling of changing a person’s life and leading him/her closer to that fitness goal.

Cassie Brown

Cassie is working toward her degree in Kinesiology and Public Health. Her passion for movement began long ago at the age of 3 when her parents enrolled her in dance lessons at a studio near her home in Leeds, Maine. She grew to love dancing so much that she involved herself in the dance studio in every way possible, including assisting with teaching classes. Cassie hopes her energy, paired with her enthusiasm for personal wellness, will motivate participants to make physical activity an enjoyable habit in their daily lives.

Maria Burden

Maria is double-majoring in Communications and Anthropology. Maria has been cycling for years and has experimented with many styles under the tutelage of a variety of instructors. She plans to bring her wide variety of training to the UMass community, which she is very involved with through student government. Maria is excited to teach and share her love of cycling with everybody through her class. She is very upbeat and extremely enthusiastic and she isn't afraid to take it to the limit and help everybody raise their fitness comfort zones.

Tracy Conner

Tracy is a PhD student in Linguistics. Previously she earned a BA in Linguistics and an MA in Sociology from Stanford University before completing an MA in Communication Disorders here at UMass. Originally from Leawood, Kansas, Tracy has moved from coast to coast for academic pursuits, but along the way she has always made time to dance. From competitive dance in high school, directing and choreographing for jazz and hip-hop groups at Stanford, to hitting the court and the national stage with the UMass dance team, and forays into Flashmobbing with her church MERCYhouse, Tracy has explored many styles of dance. It is the sheer joy of movement that keeps her dancing, and it is her delight to share this passion with hopes of liberating the feet, hips and hearts of all who wish to bust a move.

Gabriela Corbera

Gaby is majoring in Political Science. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela and lived in Curacao for the first part of her childhood. Gaby loves Zumba and received her Zumba certification in October 2009. She also recently became certified in Aqua Zumba. Her love for Latin dance and enthusiasm for working out, along with her Latina heritage, makes her perfect for teaching Zumba.

Lauren Duffy

Lauren is a Communications major with a minor in Education. Back home, Lauren danced for fifteen years with a strong focus on tap and hip-hop. She fell in love with Zumba a while back and received her certification this past November. Lauren’s energy and passion for Latin dance make her classes uplifting and fun for people of all fitness levels. By combining fun dance moves and intense aerobic exercise, Lauren’s classes are definitely an exhilarating way to get get in and stay in shape.

Mindy Eichhorn

Mindy will be in India to conduct research for her doctorate. Good luck, and we'll see Mindy when she returns!

Alyssa Gaudreault

Alyssa is a Kinesiology major. Fitness and nutrition have always been an important part of Alyssa's life, as well as running. She also participated in many sports, such as basketball, soccer and track. Along with daily workouts, Alyssa participates in the intramural sports at UMass. She began taking kickboxing classes during her freshmen year and absolutely fell in love with it! This great hobby is a fun and intense way to stay in shape. Alyssa completed her certification to teach kickboxing and can't wait to infuse her classes with her passion and energy.

Stephanie Hill

Stephanie is studying abroad for the semester but will be back in the fall.

Jill Isabelle

Jill graduated from UMass with honors with a B.A. in Women’s Studies and Community Health. Prior to joining Campus Recreation in 2009, Jill had competed in fitness and bodybuilding competitions. She still trains regularly, enjoys running and is always trying new things. Jill believes that family comes first, that friends should always make your life better, and the little things really do matter. Jill is focusing on professional development as she continues to work on her Master’s and expanding her qualifications. Her certifications include first aid/CPR/AED, and she is an AFAA kickboxing instructor, Spinning® instructor and ASFA personal trainer.

Jules Konjoian

Jules is working toward degrees in Business and Psychology. She is from Andover, Massachusetts where she grew up playing many sports and always enjoying being active. Jules began her journey to become a Spinning® instructor after many years of taking classes and pushing herself to reach the next level. She does her best to combine a variety of both movements and music in her classes to keep her students coming back. Jules is both passionate and encouraging toward her students and works very hard to make each of her classes unique and exhilarating.

Andrew Lawrence

Andrew is a BDIC major studying Environmental and Land Use Policy. Originally from Boston, Andrew first started Spinning® to train for a cross-country bicycle trip and fell in love with the exercise. As a certified Spinning® instructor, Andrew hopes to make exercise fun and enticing to all fitness levels. Using entertaining music and enthusiasm, Andrew works to make sure that everyone is not only getting a great workout, but is also having a great time!

Kelli McGarry

Kelli is an Environmental Design major from Long Island, New York. Kelli loves being outdoors, staying active, volunteering in her community and playing field hockey. Kelli has been studying jiu-jitsu for 8 years and has spent the last 3 years as a kickboxing instructor. She enjoys offering people a fun and challenging workout that incorporates elements of basic jiu-jitsu and beneficial self-defense techniques.

Elizabeth McKibben

Elizabeth has been practicing yoga intensively for four years, earning her Yoga Teacher's Certificate in May 2011. In her hometown of Pasadena, California, she instructed private yoga lessons at the studio where she received her certification. This is her first year working at UMass. Elizabeth is excited and humbled to teach yoga. Elizabeth practices a Hatha-Iyengar blend and encourages respecting the limits of one's body. In addition to studying yoga philosophy, she plans to major in Linguistics and Psychology with a minor in Chinese.

Emily McLaughlin

Emily is studying Journalism and Communications. Emily is passionate about maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle, and aspires to work in the health and fitness magazine industry in the future. She is from Pembroke, MA where she fell in love with dancing as a child. Emily teaches ZUMBA® at the Rec Center, as well as a dance Pilates class that fuses her love for ballet with yoga and Pilates techniques.

Erica Poirer

Erica is majoring in Psychology and also studying a pre-med curriculum. Erica was a member of her high school track team where she developed a love for running. She is currently training for numerous half marathons. Erica fell in love with Spinning® her first semester here at UMASS and decided to become an instructor.

Lauren Ross

Lauren is a Nutrition major from Wilbraham, MA. At the Rec Center, she is a nutrition advisor and a group fitness instructor. A lifelong exercise enthusiast, she is an avid runner and a member of the UMass Alpine Ski Team. Lauren decided to become an instructor as a way to share her enthusiasm for maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. She teaches several classes, including Pilates and Buns, Guns and Guts.

Eliza Shirazi

Eliza is studying abroad for the semester but will be back in the fall.

Eric Simpson

Eric is studying History and Linguistics. Fitness has always been a key element in his lifestyle, from trail running back home in Andover and rock climbing in New Hampshire and Colorado, to club lacrosse here at UMass. Staying active is a top priority. Eric enjoys being outdoors, going to concerts and festivals, playing games and watching scary movies. On most days you can find him at the Rec Center or working at one of his jobs, whether it's at Amherst Brewing Company, Berkshire dining or the Vice Chancellor's office for Student Affairs. Eric's course at the Rec Center focuses on muscle development and conditioning.

Erika Tabur

Erika, a Kinesiology major, is hoping to enter a Doctor of Physical Therapy program after graduation. Erika is an ACE-certified personal trainer, Spinning instructor and USA assistant swim coach. She has been swimming competitively on USA and Master's teams since she was 9 years old and has been teaching swim lessons since the age of 16. Although swimming is one of her first and long-time loves, Erika also enjoys running and endurance challenges like triathlons and trail races.

Ali Wagner

Ali Wagner is a Kinesiology major. From Abington, MA, Ali works as a lifeguard and assistant at a physical therapy clinic. At UMass, Ali works at the Body Shop in Totman and at Campus Recreation where she is a Spinning® instructor and building supervisor. Ali is lifeguard, CPR/first aid and Spinning® certified. She enjoys teaching Spinning® to motivate others and herself as well. Ali also enjoys applying and promoting what she has learned in her academic classes in her Spinning® classes. She is open to new ideas from participants (music, etc.) and loves making new friends—so introduce yourself before or after class if she doesn’t beat you to it. In her free time, Ali enjoys running, shopping and spending time on the beach.

Nicole Webb

Nicole is studying abroad for the semester but will be back in the fall.

Adrienne Wickham-Gobert

Adrienne is studying Environmental Science and Natural Resource Economics. She has a passion for the outdoors, rock climbing, biking, backpacking and dance. Competitive swimming and dancing since she was a child, Adrienne believes in living an active, healthy lifestyle. Her yoga practice began in high school when she started training in Vinyasa and Bikram yoga. In spring 2011, she studied Sivananda yoga in Uttarakhand, India. She is a leader in rock climbing and hiking for the UMass Outing Club. Here at the Rec Center, Adrienne teaches yoga and Spinning. Her classes aim to promote core strengthening, enhanced flexibility and balance. Her goal is for students of all fitness levels to have fun and leave class feeling mentally refreshed and physically invigorated.