Have you met Naissa, Program Coordinator in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation? Spend the next three minutes getting to know her a little better.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
I love hanging out in the Hanson Fitness and Lifestyle Centre. There’s always something different going on. These are my people, this is where it’s comfortable for me.
Tablet or paper?
Paper. I’m the only one in my undergrad classes madly flipping through my scribblers.
Name one thing you’ve brought to work from home.
My Dr. Seuss book, Seuss-isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out… and Those Already on Their WaySeuss-isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out… and Those Already on Their Way. Some wisdom to get me through the day in simple silly terms I can understand.
What is the one thing you can’t live without?
Coffee.
If you won airfare to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Thailand. It’s been on my radar for quite some time, but life gets in the way. It’s not an easy jaunt for the weekend.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
My mother. I had a bunch of questions that I wanted answered before she passed away. I just didn’t get the guts to ask.
If you could switch jobs with someone else on campus for a week, what would you do?
Whoever that person is with the SU that gets to organize the Week of Welcome stuff. I feel like they have the sort of creative freedom to make ridiculous ideas happen.
What does “uplifting the whole people” mean to you?
For me, “uplifting the whole people” is in what I do here. Working towards minimizing barriers to physical health. So I can’t do much with respect to helping your financial bottom-line or your academic success — but with respect to our community here, I can contribute to making sure that if you want to be active, I can get you there. That’s what my contribution is.
If you could solve any problem in the world, what would it be?
Otherism. Finding ways for people to see more commonalities with each other versus the differences.
What 3 words best describe your U of A experience?
Ongoing (I was an undergrad here a long time ago). Growth. Fulfilling.
Naissa has been working with Recreation on Campus for 9 years, but has spent her whole career in the Fitness Industry. She is an Administrator, Trainer of Fitness Leaders, Personal Trainer, and Group Fitness Leader. Mostly though, Naissa is a ridiculously proud Mom, Step mom, Granny and Wife!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.