The Lifetime Fitness Program is currently managed by Director Dr. Jack Senefeld and graduate coordinators in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, as well as a dedicated team of undergraduate exercise leaders.
DIRECTOR
Jack Senefeld, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
College of Applied Health Sciences
Email: senefeld@illinois.edu
Senefeld CV (Download)
Professor Senefeld’s research focuses on the advancement and understanding of non-pharmacological interventions (such as exercise) to mitigate the detrimental effects of human aging and metabolic diseases. Specifically, Dr. Senefeld is interested in how skeletal muscle fatigue negatively influences exercise responses in older adults and people with diabetes, as well as how exercise training might improve these impaired responses.
GRADUATE COORDINATOR
Ashley Morgan
PhD Student; Renal & Cardiovascular Disease Research Lab
Email: ashley15@illinois.edu
Hello everyone! My name is Ashley, and I am a PhD student studying exercise physiology at UIUC. My research looks at the effect that exercise has on patients with chronic kidney disease. This is my third year as the LFP Coordinator and I’m so lucky to call this “work”! I am originally from Hoopeston, and completed my bachelor’s at Indiana State University in Exercise Science. Looking forward to another great year of early mornings with LFP!
Wdasie Ayele
Master’s Student; Renal & Cardiovascular Disease Research Lab
Email: wayele2@illinois.edu
Hello everyone! My name is Wdasie, and I am a master’s student in Dr. Wilund’s Renal & Cardiovascular Disease Research Lab at UIUC. I completed my bachelor’s in Biology here at UIUC, but am from Carol Stream, IL. I work LFP on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My favorite LFP class is yoga/tai chi, and fun fact – I used to play the clarinet!!
SPRING SEMESTER STAFF
Bea Benavent
Hi everyone! My name is Bea Benavent, and I am a Junior majoring in Kinesiology. My hometown is Naperville, IL. I am a returning LFP instructor, and this semester I am instructing strength and yoga/tai chi on Wednesdays, and machines at Freer on Thursdays. A fun fact about me is that I competitively danced for six years!
Solomiya Hammond
Hello! My name is Solomiya Hammond, and I am a Junior majoring in Kinesiology. My hometown is Naperville, IL. This semester I am instructing stretch on Wednesdays, as well as strength and machines at Freer on Fridays. My fun fact is that my middle name is a type of flower!
Ashley Potter
Hello everyone! My name is Ashley Potter and I am a Junior majoring in Kinesiology with a minor in Business. My hometown is Enterprise, AL. This semester, I am teaching stretch classes on Mondays and Fridays, as well as balance on Mondays. A fun fact about myself is that I am left handed!
Katie Petersen
Hello everyone! My name is Katie Petersen and I am a Junior majoring in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology. This semester, I am instructing stretch on Thursdays, as well as aerobics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My hometown is Evanston, IL. A fun fact about me is that I absolutely love camping and hiking!
Molly Arnold
Hi everyone! My name is Molly Arnold and I am a Senior majoring in Kinesiology. My hometown is also Naperville, IL! I am instructing strength on Mondays, and stretch and core on Tuesdays. A fun fact about myself is that I am currently applying to physical therapy school.