Recreation Staff

Degrees/Certifications:
M.S. - Recreation Administration; University of Florida
B.A. - Health, Leisure, and Sports; University of West Florida
CRSS - Certified Recreational Sports Specialist
PADI - Advanced Diver

Areas of Focus:
Responsible for the overall leadership and direction of University Recreation

Bio:
A veteran of collegiate recreation, Matthew has worked at both small and large universities that include University of West Florida, University of Florida, San Jose State University, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and Louisiana State University. He is active within NIRSA: served as state representative for North Carolina and Louisiana; participated in numerous state, regional, and national tournaments and conferences; a graduate of the NIRSA School of Collegiate Recreation (levels 1 & 2); recipient of the Horace Moody Award for commitment to student development. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and spending time with his wife and two daughters. 

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation

Degrees/Certifications:
BA – Biology
MS – Exercise Science

Areas of Focus:
Marketing
Risk Management 
Health & Fitness 
Membership Services 
Facilities 

Bio: Michael is a Central Alum, having started in Recreation in 2008 as a graduate assistant. He spent time as Membership & Facility coordinator and assistant director of operations prior associate role. His duties include management of operations professionals, open recreation, oversight of indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, heading the risk management committee, capital planning, and special purchases.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation

Degrees/Certifications:

BA - Law and Justice, Law Enforcement Specialization
MS – Exercise Science 
Educational Doctorate of Interdisciplinary Leadership (Creighton University, in progress)

Areas of Focus:
RecFam Hiring and Onboarding
Recreation Leadership Cohort 
Student Development Committee Chair

Bio: Dania has been at CWU Recreation since 2013, and in Ellensburg since 2002. She has been in the fitness and health industry since 2006 in various capacities, including administrative work, certified personal training and group fitness instruction, conference presentation work, and adjunct teaching for departments on campus. Dania’s main focus of work in her position involves all hiring, onboarding, and continued training for all 150+ student employees, employee celebrations and recognition programs, and providing programmatic support and development for the teams within Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals (OPR Shop & Trips, Challenge Course, and Climbing Wall).

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation
NASPA
ACUI

Degrees/Certifications:
CWU Certificate - Database Administration
CWU Certificate - Personal Computer Applications
CWU Certificate - Supervisor Foundation
Mental Health First Aid

Areas of Focus:
Fiscal Management of the Recreation Department

Bio:
Kim was born and raised in the wonderful upper Kittitas County, and resides on a beautiful working hay farm in the Cle Elum area. She enjoys spending time with family, which includes her cats adn dogs as well.  She loves mountain biking, cross country skiiing, snow shoeing, photography, pickle ball, and working out in the amazing CWU Recreation Center!

Degrees/Certification:

C.N.A. (Certified Nurses Aid), Private - 1981
C.H.A. (Community Health Advocation) Yakima Valley Community College -1989 Areas/Focus: Office Support 

Carla was born and raised in Ellensburg Washington. After graduating from Ellensburg High School, she then moved to Yakima in order to further her education. Attended and graduated from Yakima Valley Community College in 1989 with a C.H.A. (Community Health Advocation) degree. Her hobbies include attending concerts, camping, horseback riding, and Nascar races. Carla now works at the CWU Recreation Center as an Office Assistant.

Degrees/Certifications:
B.S. - Exercise Science, Central Washington University
M.S. - Health, Human Performance, Pittsburg State University
AHA Training Center Faculty
Certified Pool Operator

Areas of Focus:
Indoor Facility Operations, Facility Reservations, Camp C-Woo

Bio:
Alex is a CWU Alum in his fourth year at CWU Recreation and his second as the Indoor Operations and Camps Coordinator.  Previously, Alex worked as the Sport Clubsd and Camps Coordinator in CWU Recreation for two years. Prior to joining CWU Recreation, Alex was a Graduate Assistant for Operations at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. As a student at CWU, Alex worked in the Recreation Department in Operations, Sport Clubs, Camps, and Special Events.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
American Camp Association
American Heart Association

Degrees/Certifications:
M.S. - Health and Physical Education; specialization in Athletic Administration, Central Washington University
B.S. - Business Administration; specialization in Human Resource Management, Central Washington University

Areas of Focus:
Memberships
Outdoor Operations

Bio:
Catherine is a CWU Alum. She has been with CWU Recreation for over 5 years, starting as a student employee, then working as a Graduate Assistant, and serving for one year in an interim position. As a non-traditional student who transferred to CWU, she is pattionate about making CWU Recreation a welcoming facility that respects the diversity of the CWU student body. In her free time, she enjoys visiting her family, traveling, exercising, reading, adn spending as much time outdoors as she can! She has also watched every episode of "The Office" at least three times.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation
NASPA

Degrees/Certifications:
1 year at YVCC Early Childhood Education

Areas of Focus:
Facilities Maintenance and Cleaning 

Bio:Teresa makes sure our patrons are comfortable and can fully enjoy the facility that they are paying for, while providing great work experience and transferable skills to our students. She also joys spending her personal time engaging in beadwork, metalsmithing/jewelry making, crocheting, gardening, reading, drinking coffee and hanging out with family and friends.

Professional Activities/Associations:
Advisor for Poly Central

Degrees/Certifications:
B.S. - Civil Engineering, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
M.S. - Civil Engineering, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
M.S. - Recreation Administration, Aurora University, George Williams College
PhD in Life Learning
NIRSA RCRSP

Areas of Focus:
Outdoor trips, Outdoor equipment rental, Outdoor trainings and certifications

Bio:
Bradley has worked in outdoor education programs since 2002, holding various roles from outdoor instructor/facilitator to administrator managing facilities, programs and supervising professional staff. He enjoys working in teh University setting and providing opportunities fro students to learn, grow adn engage in activities that support health and wellbeing.  When Bradley is not at work, he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiiing (as often as possible) and spending time with his wife, Emily and dog, Molly.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recraetion
AORE member
Professional Ski Instructors of America
AIARE
Rescue 3 International
NOLS Wilderness Medicine
Kittitas County Public Lands Advisory Committee
East Cascade Recreation Partnership

Degrees/Certifications:
M.S. - Receation, Park and Tourism Administration, Western Illinois University
B.A. - Anthropology, Widener University
Mental Health First Aid Certified
Certified Pool Operator

Areas of Focus: 
Intramural Sports 
Special Events
AAU & Youth Sports 
Inclusive & Adaptive Recreation

Bio:
Shana joined the CWU Recreation staff in September 2019.  Previously, they had worked intramural sports, club sports, special events, aquatics, marketing, and facility operations at several public and private institutions of higher education.  In addition to their collegiate recreation experience, Shana worked with youth programming and camps with the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Recreation Services at the Walt Disney Company, and multicultural student services at Widener University and Western Illinois University during their tenure as a student.  Outside of CWU, Shana officiates high school football and softball.  They are passionate about engaging students with sport, regardless of skill-level and experience, so everyone can enjoy the love of the game.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation
NIRSA Championship Series
Washington Officials Association
Yakima Valley Umpires Association
Yakima Valley Football Officials Association
National Federation of High School Officials
Amateur Athletic Union
Special Olympics Washington

Degrees/Certifications:
B.S. - International Business, University of Maryland
M.ED. - Sport Management, Concenrtation in Athletic Administration, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
American Heart Association Instructor 

Areas of Focus:
Sport Clubs
Youth Camps
Risk Management

Bio:

Samantha Wary is the Sport Club Coordinator at Central Washington University. Previously, she was a Graduate Assistant at Millersville University (Pennsylvania) where she oversaw their Campus Recreation Department including club sports, intramurals, and ropes course as well as collaborated with several departments on wellbeing programs. Samantha completed her Master of Education in Sports Management at Millersville University and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland in International Business while working in the intramural department. Throughout her time in Campus Recreation, she has had the opportunity to volunteer at different NIRSA events including regional tournaments and national conferences. She believes in the positive impact NIRSA and Campus Recreation can have for students in their personal and professional lives and looks forward to bringing that success to Central Washington University.

Professional Activities/Associations:
NIRSA: Leaders in Recreation
NIRSA Championship Series Committee - Student and Professional Development
American Heart Association
American Camp Association