If you want to meet Jess Huda, fitness coordinator at Cabrini College and women’s assistant soccer coach and goalkeeper specialist, head down to the Dixon Center, where chances are she will be either working out or doing work in her office.
Huda’s office, atop the Dixon Center stairs, is filled with soccer posters, photographs of memories with the soccer team and photographs of her nephews, all which are most important to her.
“My favorite part of being the fitness coordinator is working with people one-on-one to allow them to have a healthier lifestyle,” Huda said.
After graduating from Cabrini in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and health promotion, Huda earned a masters degree at West Chester University in sports administration.
She became the fitness coordinator at Cabrini College in 2006.
In the fall, Huda started Monday Mile walks with Chris Hyson, the Director of Health and Wellness educator. Huda has always wanted to do Healthy Monday by starting a group walk on campus, but nothing ever took off and started due to lack of participation.
Monday Mile Walks seem to be doing well as a part of Healthy Mondays, according to Huda.
The Healthy Monday Web site states, “Healthy Monday is a movement of people and organization who commit every Monday to behaviors and actions that will end preventable disease in the U.S.” There is a core group that does the walk each week and, “as long as I have one person, I will walk,” Huda said.
Huda is getting a group together for the Philadelphia Broad Street Run, which is May 2. She personally has completed the run before, and when she talked about it around campus, students and faculty mentioned wanting to do it. As a result, there will be a Cabrini group running this year. Huda has run a few half marathons, which is 13.1 miles, such as the Philly Distant Run, Lehigh Valley Run and one in Delaware.
As a student, Huda played soccer for three years and was one of the standout goalkeepers. Huda holds a number of records, including most wins, career and single season shutouts and lowest goals against average. She received first team all conference pick her junior year, team MVP junior and senior year and in 1999, team captain and Pennsylvania Athletic Conference first team recognition.
As an assistant coach at Cabrini, Huda has received the Goalkeeper Level I, II and III coaching diplomas, and her state license from the National Coaches Association of America.
Her best memory at Cabrini College was her trip to Brazil with the soccer team, as the assistant coach.
“Traveling to Brazil was not only a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it really brought our team closer together. It opened our eyes to a culture that was much different than ours, but showed us that we had a common bond, which was simply the game of soccer,” Huda said.
Traveling is an interest of Huda during her time off. Traveling to Brazil and Florida for Phillies’ spring training were Huda’s favorite places she has been. She enjoys relaxing, watching movies, reading and going out to eat when she is free.
“As fitness coordinator, my least favorite part of the job is people always analyze what I eat and what my workouts are like,” Huda said.
Huda’s hometown is Wilkes-Barre, Pa., she now resides in Media, Pa.
