Meet our team of professional and dedicated staff members who are all current students enrolled in academic programs of study at IUP. Please let us know how we can help in your quest for health and fitness.
Each year in August, a new management team steps in to begin their professional journey in the fitness center. These individuals are also graduate students earning their master's degrees from the Kinesiology, Health, and Sports Science Department. They are pursuing degrees with concentrations either in Sport Management, Exercise Science, or Sport Studies.
In addition to a new management team each academic year, the fitness center is staffed with interns and student workers.
Each semester, towards the end of August and January, you will see the new faces of undergraduate students pursuing Sport Administration degrees completing their internship experiences in the fitness center.
There are also student workers with various backgrounds and interests who add to our staff in a variety of ways as fitness instructors, personal trainers, or fitness and membership attendants. Please welcome new faces, and don't be afraid to ask questions as we get to know you!
Director
Richard Hsiao, PhD, MBA, MS
Professor
Coordinator, MS in Sport Management and MS in Sport
Studies
Director, James G. Mill Center for Health and Fitness
Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Science
Zink Hall 115
Telephone: 724-357-0123
Staff Team
Graduate Assistants
Karst Hunter: Facility Manager
Hometown: Miller, South Dakota
Master's Program: Sports Management
Background Info: I graduated with a BA in sports management from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. During my time at CMU, I was on the football team and also participated in the FCA program.
Future Plans: Hopefully get into coaching college football or basketball and continue to be around the sports I love. If coaching does not succeed, I want to manage an athletic training facility.
Interesting Fact: My graduating class in high school only had 30 kids.
Hayley Burke: Facility Manager
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
Master's Program: Sports Studies
Background Info: I graduated with my BS in exercise science from Lebanon Valley College. While there I also was a part of many different clubs and I worked at a personal training studio.
Future Plans: I plan to go into Sports Psychology and work with athletes from a wide variety of age and performance levels.
Interesting Fact: I got such a bad concussion playing Red Rover that my school banned the game from ever being played again.
Aidan Sadoski: Assistant Manager
Hometown: Murrysville, PA
Master's Program: Sports Management
Background Info: After completing my undergraduate degrees at IUP in economics and sports administration, I ultimately decided to return for my master's degree. Some reasons why I chose IUP was because my mom had received her doctorate degree in psychology here and relatively close to my family in Murrysville
Future Plans: Work in the sports industry as an agent handling contract advising, marketing, and more at the NFL, NBA, and FIBA levels.
Interesting Fact: I've worn size 15 shoes since I was 13.
Nishant Dhungana: Assistant Manager
Hometown: Nepal
Master's Program: Sport Management
Background Info: I am from the land of Mount Everest. I am a former national youth soccer player.
Future Plans: As a passionate soccer lover, I aspire to be the coach of one of the biggest soccer teams in the future.
Interesting Fact: I am a Gunner, a die-hard Arsenal supporter.
Kaisei Uchimura: Assistant Manager
Hometown: Japan, Tokyo
Master's Program: Sports Management
Background Info: I got a bachelor's degree in politics and economics in undergrad at a Japanese college. After graduation, I worked for a Japanese company as a salesperson.
Future Plans: I want to work for the sports industry, especially I want to work for a baseball team.
Interesting Fact: I focus on sports topics, fitness, baseball, any other sports, and want to explore about sports management.
Naoyuki Yamashiro: Student Worker
Hometown: Kanagawa, Japan
Master's Program: Sports Management
Background Info: I received my bachelor's degree in sport and health from Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan. I mainly studied kinesiology. I worked as a personal stretching trainer for three years in Japan.
Future Plans: I would like to work as the manager of a fitness center in the United States. Finally, I would like to go back to Japan and work in a fitness center.
Interesting Fact: I love Japanese food, so I've brought Japanese seasonings from my country. I cook Japanese food daily.
Olivia Blankenship: Student Worker
Hometown: Apollo, Pennsylvania
Undergrad Program: K-12 Health and Physical Education
Background Info: I grew up playing sports starting in middle school and high school, then continued into college. I really enjoy being outside to do activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, and skiing.
Future Plans: After college, I plan to work in a school as a health and physical educator and also as a sports coach.
Interesting Fact: I decided to join the IUP Women's Ice Hockey Club team halfway through college after never playing before.
Employment or Internships at the Fitness Center
Are you interested in making some extra money while gaining valuable experience in the field of exercise and fitness? If you are dedicated, professional, and willing to put our members first, then we might be looking for you!
Fitness and membership attendants are typically student workers and can be from any academic field. Between two and four student workers are needed yearly. Staff may be required to be available during winter and/or summer breaks. Typically between one and two personal trainers and group fitness instructors are needed yearly and must have junior or senior status in IUP's Exercise Science program. Positions may or may not be available throughout the year.
Applications will be accepted at any time by downloading and completing an Employee Application Form, attaching your resume, and delivering your information to the fitness center or mailbox outside of Room 114. If workers are not currently needed and the applicant will be available during the following term, their application will be kept on file for consideration during the next term.
Interns, please complete an Intern Application Form, submit your resume, and deliver your information to the mailbox outside of Room 114 or email your packet to Richard Hsiao at hsiao@iup.edu. Interns should apply no later than two months before the semester during which they wish to complete their internship. Interns must have their internship approved by their internship adviser no later than one month before the conclusion of the semester that precedes the prospective internship period (e.g., an internship for fall must be approved no later than the end of March).
Positions that may be available along with their descriptions and requirements include: