Meet Your WRSC Instructors

Natalie Cervantes is a Sociology major and has been teaching group exercise classes since 2009. Natalie is AFAA certified in group exercise and kickboxing. Natalie is also certified through the American Red Cross in CPR/AED and First Aid. Natalie enjoys dancing, scrapbooking and spending time with family and friends.

Colette Cabot has been the Fitness & Wellness Coordinator at the WRSC since 2010 and an instructor since 2005. Colette is originally from Fruitport, Michigan, she loves Texas weather! Colette is a certified group exercise instructor and personal trainer through ACE, Certified Instructor for the American Red Cross, and holds fitness certifications/licenses in Turbo Kick, PiYo, Hip Hop Hustle, Zumba, SPINNING, Yoga Fit Level 1.  Active all her life Colette enjoys playing tennis, running, and taking on new athletic hobbies.  

Jessica Johnstone is currently a full time student at UTPA.  She is majoring in Nursing with hopes of pursuing a Master's Degree in becoming a nurse anesthetist.  Jessica loves to keep a healthy lifestyle by staying active, eating healthy, and being happy.  She is actively involved in, school clubs/organizations, volunteering, teaching group exercise and running for the UTPA Track Team.  Jessica says she loves group exercise classes because they are fun and a great workout.  She says, "They are stress relievers, and they make me happy." 

  Andrea Alanis has been instructing Zumba classes at the WRSC since Spring 2012.

Paul Valdez has been instructing Zumba classess at the WRSC since Summer 2012.

Dana Nazarova has been working at the WRSC since Spring 2012.  Dana is orginally from Nalchik Russia.  Dana is majoring in Political Science and is expected to graduate in Spring 2013.  After graduation Dana says she would like to go to law school to become a lawyer.  Dana is also on the UTPA Women's Tennis team, she has played tennis since 2001.

Joy Hardwicke an English major at UTPA. Joy has been practicing and studying Pilates and Yoga since 2006 and has been employed at the WRSC since January 2011. Joy is a certified Pilates Mat,Yogafit Level I, YogaFit Yoga Core, and AFAA Primary Group Exercise instructor. Yoga and Pilates are two of Joy’s greatest passions. She says, “My Yoga and Pilates practice have continually improved and enriched my life, and I am grateful that I can share this knowledge to help others find strength, flexibility, and peace.”

Cecilia Gonzalez is currently a student at UTPA whose major is in English and minor in Spanish.  She enjoys all forms of exercise.  Her specialty is Zumba but she also enjoys pre-natal exercise being a mother herself.  She has been an Instructor at the WRSC since May 2011.  She says, "I encourage everyone to take advantage of the variety of classes available at the WRSC, and to live your life to the fullest!" 

Maxine Saenz is an undergraduate majoring in Education. After graduation Maxine hopes to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher. Maxine started working at the WRSC in Fall 2011 as a Weight/Cardio Supervisor. Since then Maxine has expanded into instructing group exercise classes and is currently the Fitness Intern. Fitness is not new to Maxine. During high school Maxine participated in softball, kickball, track, cross country, basketball, swimming, and cheerleading. More recently Maxine has taken up participating in several running and obstacle course races. Maxine maintains her fitness and has the goal of one day becoming a Body Builder; she looks to Fitness Role Model Dana Linn Bailey as her inspiration.

Brenda Diaz is a movement addict!  Anything that falls under dance, mind and body, she embraces with open arms.   Brenda loves to help others find their own movement passion.  Brenda's passion for dance fused with her love for body awareness techniques helps her students gain insight and knowledge about their own bodies and minds. Her background as a  performing dancer helps her bridge all these components ; and now her passion for bellydance and african rhythms is an energy she can't wait to pass on to you.  Brenda has two UTPA BA's in  of Anthropology and Philosophy. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Medical Anthropology and Ethnomusicology.