MEET OUR WELLBEING TEAM
MEET OUR STAFF







MEET OUR VIRTUAL GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTORS

Christine Shaw
Vinyasa Yoga Instructor
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Christine has been in the fitness industry since 1984 and teaching Yoga since 1998. She has a 500hr Yoga Teacher Training Certification and is a Level 1 Yoga Therapist. She has training in reiki, energy exercise, group exercise and spiritual leadership certification. Christine is owner of a yoga studio and creator of YES- Yoga for Emotional Support. Her favorite thing about teaching yoga is guiding people to heal and to feel and be their best. She enjoys teaching dynamic flow classes that suit each individual on that day!

Milinda Rose Atallian
BODYPUMP & BODYFLOW Instructor
Bio
Milinda currently teaches and coaches at three different facilities, and enjoys the different nuances of each establishment. She is a certified personal trainer through ACE, as well as a general group exercise instructor. She is also certified to teach BODYPUMP, BODYFLOW, Les Mills SPRINT and has just completed the BODYCOMBAT training. Milinda is also certified to teach Spinning and CardioSport. Her passion for teaching came after she survived Breast Cancer. It was important for her to motivate others who have gone through, or are going through any type of illness, to keep moving forward.

Isabella Hsiao
Zumba Instructor
Bio
Isabella is currently a Spanish and Health Behavioral Science Double Major at the University of Delaware. She has been teaching Zumba since 2018 and absolutely loves teaching because every class feels like a dance party!

Martha Buell
Zumba Toning Instructor
Bio
Martha has been at the University for 20 years and is a Professor in Human Development and Family Studies, and the Director of the Delaware Institute of Excellence in Early Childhood. Martha teaches Zumba and Aqua Zumba.

Amy Thomas
BODYCOMBAT Instructor
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Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Delaware with a minor in Biology. Besides her career in Sports Medicine treating athletic injuries, she has been in the fitness industry for the last 19 years as an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and ACE Personal Trainer. The energy and drive in group fitness sparked her on a path to motivate others and is certified to teach Les Mills BodyPump, BodyCombat, and BodyAttack. To her, there is no better feeling then teaching a high energy class that leaves everyone feeling successful and accomplishing more than they thought they could

Jennifer Palacio
Pilates Tone Instructor
Bio
Jennifer has been teaching in the Group Fitness industry since 2009 for local gyms in the area and the City of Newark. She is certified and licensed in different formats such as Pilates, Barre, Cardio Sport, Zumba, Zumba Toning, Strong by Zumba, Aqua Zumba. She feels it’s always important to connect with her students as she inspires them on their fitness journey. She enjoys giving back to others by organizing various fundraising events in her community and likes to work with special needs individuals. Her hobbies include running, biking and training for half and full marathons.
Sent from my iPhone

Chelsea Finch
BODYCOMBAT, GRIT CARDIO, & CXWORX Instructor
Bio
Chelsea is the Fitness Coordinator for the UD Employee Health and Wellbeing Program and is certified to teach BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT, Zumba, and Cycle. For Chelsea, group fitness to her is one of the most empowering programs to be involved in. As an instructor, you have the power to motivate and challenge participants to give their best absolute effort in everything they do. The best feeling is when you give your energy off to your participants, they give it right back, and all of you realize nothing is stopping you from completing this workout. That community “feel” is what draws Chelsea back each class.

Renee Paoli
GRIT CARDIO & Barre Instructor
Bio
Renee has been teaching group exercise for 20 years and has been a personal trainer for 6 years. She loves connecting with members through music and movement and motivating them to be their best self. Her favorite quote is “Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it.”

Cherish Warner
Yoga Instructor
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Jaime Tomlinson
Cardio Strength Instructor
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Jaime works as a Research Geologist at the Delaware geological Survey. She began teaching fitness classes for UD in 2011 and is certified in BODYPUMP, HIIT, and Cycle. Jaime discovered group exercise as a graduate student at UD and was immediately hooked on the energy, motivation, socialization and workout variety that comes with fitness classes. Her favorite part about teaching is helping members progress in their workouts and surprising themselves by achieving new milestones. Outside of teaching, Jaime loves to garden, cook, bake, hike and trail run!

Polly Weir
Cardio Strength Instructor
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Polly is the Director of Conference & Event Services at UD and an adjunct professor in Hospitality Business management. With 30 years of fitness class teaching experience, Polly loves to have fun engage with her participants, while also improving their confidence, strength, health, and mindset at the same time.

Jen Muzzi
Yoga Break Instructor
Yoga Break Instructor
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Herbert Bell
Tai Chi Instructor
Bio
Herbert is certified Health Coach and Tai Chi Chuan Instructor, as well as Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability Consultant. Herbert loves to see students connect the “Breath” with the “Movements” eventually receiving the health benefits from their Tai Chi/Qigong practice.
MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

Herbert Bell
Tai Chi Instructor
Bio
Herbert is certified Health Coach and Tai Chi Chuan Instructor, as well as Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability Consultant. Herbert loves to see students connect the “Breath” with the “Movements” eventually receiving the health benefits from their Tai Chi/Qigong practice.

Andrea Boulden
Yoga Instructor
Bio
Certified yoga instructor, Andrea also is a jewelry designer and loves to paddleboard and boat outside of her practice. She loves watching her students grow and become more in tune with their bodies.

Ben Brewer
BODYPUMP Instructor
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Ben is a certified Body Pump instructor; he also works as a Data Analyst for the College of Health Sciences. When he’s not teaching group fitness or staring at hundreds of lines of code, he enjoys running, lifting, and playing tennis. As a Pump instructor, his biggest goals are to make people smile and feel good about their workouts.

Martha Buell
Zumba Instructor
Bio
Martha has been at the University for 20 years and is a Professor in Human Development and Family Studies, and the Director of the Delaware Institute of Excellence in Early Childhood. Martha teaches Zumba and Aqua Zumba.

Kelsey Cummings
Yoga Instructor
Bio
Kelsey is the Academic Program Coordinator for the UD Honors Program. Inspired to teach 7 years ago, Kelsey was encouraged by an amazing instructor to take her love for yoga to the next level and become an instructor. Her favorite thing about teaching yoga is the energy of all of the students. Each individual is coming from a different place, but can come together and spend some time focusing on their breath and movement all together. Outside of yoga, Kelsey loves spending time with her family in the outdoors, reading, and hiking

Milinda Rose Atallian
BODYPUMP, Strength & Conditioning, and SPRINT Instructor
Bio
Milinda currently teaches and coaches at three different facilities, and enjoys the different nuances of each establishment. She is a certified personal trainer through ACE, as well as a general group exercise instructor. She is also certified to teach BODYPUMP, BODYFLOW, Les Mills SPRINT and has just completed the BODYCOMBAT training. Milinda is also certified to teach Spinning and CardioSport. Her passion for teaching came after she survived Breast Cancer. It was important for her to motivate others who have gone through, or are going through any type of illness, to keep moving forward.

Bridget Baldwin
BODYPUMP, GRIT, & BODYCOMBAT Instructor
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Bridget is an instructor of all trades! She teaches BODYPUMP, BODYSTEP, BODYATTACK, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT, cycling, bootcamps, TRX, circuit training, and free-style step. Outside group fitness certifications, she is also an ACE certified personal trainer and ACE certified Orthopedic Exercise Specialist. Bridget’s Bachelor’s Degree is in Physical Education Studies with a concentration in Fitness Management and a biology minor.
Bridget has played sports her whole life and has had a gym membership since before she had her driver’s license. She was on the Crew team at UD and has completed half-marathons, sprint triathlons, numerous mud runs, and obstacle course races. She also competed as a professional bodybuilder for 3 years. Bridget has a passion for lifting, but her fitness philosophy is that “We should all be striving to get through this life with as few physical limitations as possible. Sometimes that’s about working harder, sometimes it’s about working smarter – but always it’s about evolving our training to meet ourselves at our current fitness level and keep improving on what we’ve got!”

Kristen Benninghoff
Zumba Gold Instructor
Bio
Kristin has been teaching Zumba and Zumba Gold classes here at UD for the past 4 years. She also teaches Zumba at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA. Kristin is the Senior Associate Director of the UD Honors Program and proud Blue Hen alum!

Isabella Hsiao
Zumba Instructor
Bio
Isabella is currently a Spanish and Health Behavioral Science Double Major at the University of Delaware. She has been teaching Zumba since 2018 and absolutely loves teaching because every class feels like a dance party!

Maryann Quinn-Hendrix
Pilates Instructor
Bio
Maryann is certified to teach Pilates, barre, Les Mills BODYFLOW, Les Mills BARRE, Aerial Yoga, and Meditation. Outside of fitness, Maryann is a paralegal and loves to travel and cook. Her favorite thing about teaching group fitness classes is the opportunity to connect with members and help inspire them on their wellness journey.

Chelsea Finch
BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT and SPRINT Instructor
Bio
Chelsea is the Fitness Coordinator for the UD Employee Health and Wellbeing Program and is certified to teach BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT, Zumba, and Cycle. For Chelsea, group fitness to her is one of the most empowering programs to be involved in. As an instructor, you have the power to motivate and challenge participants to give their best absolute effort in everything they do. The best feeling is when you give your energy off to your participants, they give it right back, and all of you realize nothing is stopping you from completing this workout. That community “feel” is what draws Chelsea back each class.

Stacie Larkin
Yoga Instructor
Bio
Stacie is a certified yoga instructor and has been teaching yoga classes since 2012 for a variety of populations from older adults, people who are blind, to young competitive figure skaters. Her classes at UD are primarily a slow flow, with a focus on alignment and breath. She incorporates a mix of poses that address strength, mobility and balance. She enjoy teaching classes that are accessible to anyone and yet challenging to all. Teaching yoga allows her to integrate my skills and knowledge as an educator and a physical therapist to lead a practice that is purposeful in design.

Cherish Warner
Yoga Instructor
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Amy Thomas
BODYCOMBAT, Strength & Conditioning, and Cardio Strength Instructor
View Bio
Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Delaware with a minor in Biology. Besides her career in Sports Medicine treating athletic injuries, she has been in the fitness industry for the last 19 years as an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and ACE Personal Trainer. The energy and drive in group fitness sparked her on a path to motivate others and is certified to teach Les Mills BodyPump, BodyCombat, and BodyAttack. To her, there is no better feeling then teaching a high energy class that leaves everyone feeling successful and accomplishing more than they thought they could

Polly Weir
Express Cycle and Cardio Strength Instructor
View Bio
Polly is the Director of Conference & Event Services at UD and an adjunct professor in Hospitality Business management. With 30 years of fitness class teaching experience, Polly loves to have fun engage with her participants, while also improving their confidence, strength, health, and mindset at the same time.

Diane Goldsmith
Yoga Instructor
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Diane joined UD in 2016, and is an Administrative Assistant in IT. A UD trained LGBTQ Ally and Women’s Caucus Executive Board Member, she is passionate about advocating for positive change for women on campus and beyond. Diane has been teaching yoga since 2012. An all-levels teacher, Diane specializes in Yoga for Athletes, Beginners Yoga and Yoga for Recovery. Diane is a regularly featured yoga teacher at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover DE since 2015.

Renee Paoli
BODYCOMBAT & Core Conditioning Instructor and Personal Trainer
Bio
Renee has been teaching group exercise for 20 years and has been a personal trainer for 6 years. She loves connecting with members through music and movement and motivating them to be their best self. Her favorite quote is “Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it.”

Jaime Tomlinson
Cardio Strength Instructor
View Bio
Jaime works as a Research Geologist at the Delaware geological Survey. She began teaching fitness classes for UD in 2011 and is certified in BODYPUMP, HIIT, and Cycle. Jaime discovered group exercise as a graduate student at UD and was immediately hooked on the energy, motivation, socialization and workout variety that comes with fitness classes. Her favorite part about teaching is helping members progress in their workouts and surprising themselves by achieving new milestones. Outside of teaching, Jaime loves to garden, cook, bake, hike and trail run!

Jennifer Palacio
Barre Instructor
Bio
Jennifer has been teaching in the Group Fitness industry since 2009 for local gyms in the area and the City of Newark. She is certified and licensed in different formats such as Pilates, Barre, Cardio Sport, Zumba, Zumba Toning, Strong by Zumba, Aqua Zumba. She feels it’s always important to connect with her students as she inspires them on their fitness journey. She enjoys giving back to others by organizing various fundraising events in her community and likes to work with special needs individuals. Her hobbies include running, biking and training for half and full marathons.
Sent from my iPhone

Jessica Ruggieri
BODYPUMP, SPRINT, and GRIT Instructor
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Jess has been a fitness instructor since 2008 and a Les Mills coach since 2012. Her full time gig is right here on campus within the Development & Alumni Relations Office. Jess is a UD alumnae with a Masters in Health Promotion as well as a Nationally Certified Health Coach. Her passion is to help others live better! If you don’t find her at work or in the gym, she is probably either watching football or reading on the beach depending on the season!

Christine Shaw
Yoga Instructor
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Christine has been in the fitness industry since 1984 and teaching Yoga since 1998. She has a 500hr Yoga Teacher Training Certification and is a Level 1 Yoga Therapist. She has training in reiki, energy exercise, group exercise and spiritual leadership certification. Christine is owner of a yoga studio and creator of YES- Yoga for Emotional Support. Her favorite thing about teaching yoga is guiding people to heal and to feel and be their best. She enjoys teaching dynamic flow classes that suit each individual on that day!
MEET OUR PERSONAL TRAINERS

Bridget Baldwin
BODYPUMP, GRIT, & BODYCOMBAT Instructor; Personal Trainer
View Bio
Bridget is an instructor of all trades! She teaches BODYPUMP, BODYSTEP, BODYATTACK, BODYCOMBAT, GRIT, cycling, bootcamps, TRX, circuit training, and free-style step. Outside group fitness certifications, she is also an ACE certified personal trainer and ACE certified Orthopedic Exercise Specialist. Bridget’s Bachelor’s Degree is in Physical Education Studies with a concentration in Fitness Management and a biology minor.
Bridget has played sports her whole life and has had a gym membership since before she had her driver’s license. She was on the Crew team at UD and has completed half-marathons, sprint triathlons, numerous mud runs, and obstacle course races. She also competed as a professional bodybuilder for 3 years. Bridget has a passion for lifting, but her fitness philosophy is that “We should all be striving to get through this life with as few physical limitations as possible. Sometimes that’s about working harder, sometimes it’s about working smarter – but always it’s about evolving our training to meet ourselves at our current fitness level and keep improving on what we’ve got!”

Renee Paoli
BODYCOMBAT & Core Conditioning Instructor and Personal Trainer
Bio
Renee has been teaching group exercise for 20 years and has been a personal trainer for 6 years. She loves connecting with members through music and movement and motivating them to be their best self. Her favorite quote is “Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it.”

Corey DeShields
Personal Trainer
Bio
Corey is a Basketball Performance Coach and provide basketball specific strength and conditioning and basketball skills training/development. He primarily works with Middle School, High School, and Collegiate student-athletes. His primary training goals are to improve athleticism (strength, speed, explosiveness, mobility, and flexibility) and to decrease the occurrence injury.

Sandeep Patel
Personal Trainer
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Sandeep is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware, as well as the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Associate Chairperson.
EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLBEING
CONTACT
26 N College Ave Room 125, Newark DE 19716
P: (302) 831-8388 | wellbeing@udel.edu
Hours
Monday-Thursday: 5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Friday: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat-Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.