From left are Tony Musto, Michelle Kasparian, and Tom Soria.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2016) –  As the higher education landscape becomes more complex and campus administrators face increasing challenges in their work, professional associations and committees provide University of Miami staff with opportunities to collaborate and learn from colleagues at other schools around the nation.

In addition to national conferences, published research and online resources, many of these professional associations present opportunities for their members to hold leadership positions within the organization. Recently, three staff members from the University of Miami’s Department of Wellness & Recreation have taken on such roles.

“With the mental and physical well-being of our students at the core of our division’s mission, it is especially important that the University of Miami is part of national conversations in the areas of fitness, wellness and recreation,” said Patricia A. Whitely, vice president for student affairs. “In addition to the Department of Wellness & Recreation, I am proud that staff members from all departments within the Division of Student Affairs continually lend their professional experiences and expertise to national committees and professional associations.”

Tony Musto, Ph.D., director of fitness programs for the Department of Wellness & Recreation, serves on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exam Review Committee and is the co-chair of ACSM’s Clinical Exercise Physiologist Exam Team. Comprised of 10 faculty members, fitness center directors, and degreed exercise professionals from across the United States, the Exam Review Committee is the chief oversight committee for the development of ACSM’s certification exams for various levels of exercise professionals, including for personal trainers and group exercise instructors. The Exam Team is an extension of the review committee as its members serve as content experts for various sections of the ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist certification exam.

Michelle Kasparian, who joined the Department of Wellness & Recreation as the assistant director of group exercise and community classes in January 2015, was named to the ACSM Group Exercise Instructor Certification Exam Team. Kasparian’s role on the six-member team is to review the results of exam questions to ensure the exam is appropriate and defensible based on current research and standards of practice for group exercise instructors.

“I applied to be on the committee to make a greater contribution to the fitness industry, specifically in group exercise,” Kasparian said. “I love learning in my field by attending conferences and workshops, but serving on this committee gives me the ability to apply my knowledge and give back by ensuring these certified professionals are held to a high standard.”

With more than 20,000 certified members worldwide, ACSM is considered to be the “gold standard” of certifying organizations for exercise professionals around the world. Musto believes that he was selected for the committee because his experience is a balanced mix of academic and practical experience.

“ACSM is a well-respected organization and their certification is one of the most rigorous in the industry,” he said. “It’s one thing to hold a certification from ACSM, but it is another level to write the questions and design the exam itself, leaving an impact on the national organizations and its members.”

Tom Soria, assistant director of intramural sports and director of the Department of Wellness & Recreation’s Mini Canes Summer Camp, was recently appointed to the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Professional Registry Commission. With representatives from four other universities as well as from NIRSA’s national headquarters, this commission oversees the policies, standards, and other criteria for NIRSA’s Professional Registry. The registry serves as a credential program for NIRSA’s 4,500 members and is designed to recognize campus professionals who set the highest standard in collegiate recreation through continuous education and professional development.

“As professionals with a direct impact on our students’ college experiences, we must be aware of and understand current trends and issues affecting our students,” said Soria. “But we must also anticipate new issues that may arise before they even reach our own campus. NIRSA’s Professional Registry recognizes those campus recreation professionals who dedicate themselves to purposeful development within our field.”

The staff at the Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. It is through their involvement with various national organizations that they work together to deliver exceptional fitness, wellness, and recreational programming for the University of Miami community.

“I support members of my team who want to get involved at the regional and national levels within their professional associations,” said Scott Levin, executive director for the Department of Wellness & Recreation. “We can better serve our students and other constituencies by becoming active members in these organizations, which are designed to bring together colleagues from around the country and the world for opportunities to share our experiences and expertise with each other.”