51³Ô¹ÏÍø

September 22nd, 2021

It is with open arms that Campus Recreation welcomes our newest Full Time Staff Member, Kellina Yarrish, the Assistant Director of Fitness! This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kellina for an interview.

Where did you go to undergrad/ what for? 

I went to undergrad at Keystone College and my major was Elementary Education and Psychology. Then I got my Masters from Cedar Crest College in Education. I also have a Masters in Kinesiology from McDaniel College! Currently, I am pursuing my Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Gwynedd Mercy.

Tell me a little bit about your recreation story and your experiences in recreation. 

Yeah! So, I worked in Collegiate Athletics for about 10 years. I was an Assistant Coach and a Head Field Hockey Coach at McDaniel College. So typically, in Division 3 Sports, you hold a secondary responsibility when you’re  a coach. So when I was coaching, I was also overseeing Recreation and Wellness at Cedar Crest. I was Assistant Director of Student Activities and Campus Recreation as well as a coach! I oversaw student clubs and organizations, focused a lot on student engagement and leadership, and essentially just managed the Campus Recreation Fitness Center and other student wellness initiatives. I also focused on Group Fitness and other events for the campus community.

What is your favorite part about working in recreation? 

Athletics, recreation, and wellness have always been a passion of mine. Within Campus Rec, there's always so much evolving, and so much to learn, which is awesome! I love working with students, too! When I get to work with them, it’s always a joy, because they bring their passions to this field as well, which makes coming to work a joy. Also, I really love wellness initiatives in general, because I believe student well being in itself is super critical and important. 

What drew you to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s CREC department? 

Throughout the interview process, I began to love the department culture and the campus environment. I always was looking to move into a larger, Co-ed institution, and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers exactly that. The facilities here are so big and beautiful, and it's really important to me that students have that recreation outlet in college, or at least the option to participate in one. Really just the overall department culture and the campus community are what drew me to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Campus Recreation Department. 

Is there anything else you’d like to say to the CREC workers?

I am very excited to join the thriving 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Owl community on this amazing campus. The department of Campus Recreation has been incredibly welcoming, and I look forward to contributing to the mission and values of the University!