Jenny Graddy

For more info, visit: www.jennyg.com For the most part, I grew up in Florida. I went to Choctawhatchee high school in Fort Walton Beach. I love the beaches and warm weather that Florida has almost all year long. Before moving to Florida, I grew up in Okinawa, Japan. My father was in the U.S. Air Force. As an air force "brat'" I had the opportunity to experience the different customs and cultures of Japan. Japan had a great influence on me. My favorite foods are Japanese (like rice, sushi, tofu, but not a lot of fish). At the age of 14, I joined a women's health club with my mother. Together, my mother and I explored the benefits of exercise and physical activity. Not only did I gain physical health benefits, but also mental and emotion health. At this time, I became very interested in how physical health affects emotional health, the mind-body connection. I began to study health and fitness-related issues, became a certified group fitness instructor at the age of 17. I began to teach step aerobics, work as a fitness trainer and assist my high school physical education teacher with lesson plans and group fitness instruction. During my years at University of Florida, I taught several different types of fitness classes for the campus recreation center and local fitness centers. I was also a personal trainer at UF and for clients in the community. During my graduate years, I was the Graduate Assistant for Group Fitness Programs. I enjoy working with both fitness professionals and clients. After graduate school, I took a position as the Assistant Fitness Director at Florida Tech's Charles and Ruth Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation. This center opened in August of 2001. During my time as the Assistant Director, I helped establish fitness and wellness programs for Florida Tech and the Clemente Center. This was a great opportunity for me to create new programs at a university. In July 2002, I married my college sweetheart, Jeff, and moved back to Gainesville. I continued to train clients, teach fitness classes, and also worked with the University of Florida's College of Nursing Research Support Department while Jeff completed the didactic portion of his doctoral program. In June 2003, we moved to San Diego, California, to venture out of Florida and pursue career opportunities. Although I had a great job working as Fitness Director for the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club and enjoyed west coast living, I realized that I’d be better suited to return to Florida to pursue both my professional and personal goals. So, in September, Jeff and I have relocated back to Florida. I accepted the job opportunity to become the new Fitness Coordinator for Wellness and Group Fitness Programs at the University of Florida. As Fitness Coordinator, I will develop programs that impact the next generation of fitness professionals (as well as the general student population), develop resources and create strong networks among professionals in the fitness industry