All of our program coordinators and instructors hold either a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in exercise science, biomechanics, exercise physiology, kinesiology, physical therapy, nutrition or an exercise science-related degree. They all strive to support their students and become valuable resources and mentors well after they graduate. See below for the program coordinator bio's.
Ken Baldwin, M.ED., is the Program Coordinator and an instructor for the Professional Certificate in Personal Fitness Training. He is the former Chair of IDEA’s National Personal Trainer Committee and Chair of the Senior Fitness Subcommittee for the Massachusetts’s Governor’s Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports. Ken is the Senior Editor and lead author for the American College of Sports Medicine - ACSM’s Resources for the Personal Trainer Manual (2nd Ed.) and textbook. He continues to serve on national committees for ACSM, AAHPERD (AAPAR), and the Medical Fitness Association (MFA). He has been honored with numerous awards including IDEA’s Personal Trainer of the Year Award, presented at the IDEA International Personal Training Summit.
David Flench, MBA, ACSM HFS, is the program coordinator and an instructor for the Professional Certificate in Fitness Business Management. He has over 13 years work experience in health and fitness, and is currently the General Manager for the Healthplex Fitness Center at the Institute for Advanced Medicine in the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System in Sarasota, FL. David is responsible for the strategic planning and operational oversight for the Healthplex, a new 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art medically-integrated health and wellness center. David attained his Master of Business Administration from Franklin University in Columbus, OH and his Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Exercise Science from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. David recently finished a three-year term as the Chairman for Florida Regional Chapter of the Medical Fitness Association (MFA), continues to serve on national committees for MFA, and was the 2009 recipient of the MFA Don Schneider Distinguished Service Award. He is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Leadership Sarasota County, and the American College of Sports Medicine.
Melissa Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE
Melissa
Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE is the Program Coordinator and an Instructor
for the Professional Certificate in Nutrition for Optimal
Health, Wellness, and
Sports, and an instructor for the Professional Certificate in
Advanced Personal Fitness Training. She is a
Certified Diabetes Educator, holds a Bachelors of Science in Clinical
Dietetics and Masters degree in Nutrition Education and practiced as
Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian for 10 years. She has the
Certificate of training for Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management.
Melissa has 15 years of diverse experience in clinical care, nutrition
management, nutrition counseling, critical care curriculum, nutrition
education, media and writing, and currently serves as Co-President of
the Los Angeles District of the CDA and spokesperson for the California
Dietetic Association. In 2006, she started SuperKids Nutrition Inc…to
save the world one healthy food at a time™ a company and mega Website
resource for easy-to-read credible nutrition information and activities
for families.
Jasmine Jafferali,
MPH, is the Program Coordinator and an instructor for the Professional
Certificate in Women's
Exercise Training and Wellness.
She has a diverse fitness background with over ten years of industry
experience in campus recreation, corporate wellness, and the commercial
health club setting. She has presented on a wide range of health and
fitness topics for the community, at major corporations, and at
national and international conferences. She also advocates bringing the
fitness and medical community together through wellness and
preventative programming. Jasmine specializes in Women’s Health and
Wellness focusing on pre and postnatal fitness and is a Master Trainer
for Healthy Moms® Fitness and Resist-a-ball®.