Meet Our Coaches
All of our health coaches complete a minimum of 45 hours of training in health coaching techniques. The UCAN health coaches are upper division undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing careers in health fields.
Just like you, they often struggle to manage their studies, work obligations, extra curricular activities and health-supporting self-care patterns. Our health coaches don’t have perfect diets or exercise habits. They can empathize with the stressors of college life and will work with you to help you achieve your health goals.
Health coaches are experts at supporting clients through the behavior change process. Health coaches are not personal trainers and they aren’t dietitians. They provide counseling services to support you in whatever changes you’re interested in making.
Fall 2021 UCAN Health Coaches
Lauren Aldridge
Lauren Aldridge is a junior at Northern Arizona University, majoring in fitness wellness and minoring in nutritional sciences and business. She is a local of Flagstaff and likes to hike, rock climb, snowboard, and work out in her free time. She is passionate about maintaining health through a holistic approach that focuses on balancing all aspects of life.
Natalie Broglia
Natalie is a senior from Mesa, Arizona. She is a Nutrition major with a minor in Biology and her goal is to become a physical therapist. She enjoys hiking, painting, and spending time with friends and family.
Madi Elsner
Madi is a senior studying nutrition at NAU. She is from Scottsdale, Arizona and loves hiking and anything to do with music. Her goal is to become a dietician and someday work in an eating disorder center for adolescents. She is passionate about promoting a non-diet approach, body positivity, and a healthy relationship with food.
Hannah Rahn
Hannah is a senior, studying psychological sciences with a minor in health & wellness coaching. She is from Anaheim, California and loves anything to do with the outdoors and traveling. Her goal is to pursue a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling and travel full time. She is passionate about body positivity and is the President and founder of the NAU Body Positivity Club.
Maya Rajah
Maya is an international student from Singapore majoring in Psychological Science. She is a yoga enthusiast, and a certified yoga instructor and has also been practicing mindfulness meditation for five years. She is very passionate about sharing the benefits of this transformative practice. Maya ultimately hopes to serve others by helping them discover tools and resources that promote wellness in a way that is meaningful and exciting to them. She believes that each person’s journey towards health and happiness is highly personal and unique, and that there is nothing more powerful than tuning in to our own innate wisdom, and learning to communicate with our bodies in a mindful, compassionate way.
Denise White
Denise is excited to be in her second year as a Master of Public Health Nutrition student. She wants to share with others how good they can feel by treating their bodies well. She loves talking with people about health and hopes to use her future Registered Dietician credential as a health coach for the underserved population. Denise’s undergraduate degree is in forestry, and she had a long, winding road that led her to seek formal nutrition education. She has had a variety of life experiences and enjoys connecting with all types of people. In addition to being with positive people, Denise is recharged in the outdoors and has fun hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and snowboarding.
Health Coach Management Team
Dawn Clifford, PhD, RD
UCAN Director
Dr. Clifford is a Professor in the Health Sciences Department. She’s a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and author of the book 5-Minute MI: Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Health When Time is Short and co-author of the book, Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness. Dr. Clifford teaches courses in Nutrition Education and Counseling and Lifecycle Nutrition. She conducts research in non-diet, weight inclusive approaches to health and well-being and behavior change counseling.
Natalie Papini, MA
UCAN Assistant Director
Natalie Papini is an instructor in the Health Sciences Department and doctoral student in the Interdisciplinary Health PhD program at NAU. She teaches courses on health coaching, worksite wellness, and stress management in the Fitness and Wellness program. She conducts research in the areas of weight stigma, body image, and self-compassion and previously worked in the worksite wellness health coaching industry.
Eason Lillard
UCAN Marketing Director
Eason is a senior Public Health major who is interning with UCAN for the Fall 21’ Semester. He is originally from Mohave Valley, AZ and loves music and spending time outdoors with his dog Daisy. His goal is to pursue a master’s degree in public health after he graduates from NAU.
Hannah Rahn
UCAN Health Coach Supervisor
Hannah is a senior, studying psychological sciences with a minor in health & wellness coaching. She is from Anaheim, California and loves anything to do with the outdoors and traveling. Her goal is to pursue a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling and travel full time. She is passionate about body positivity and is the President and founder of the NAU Body Positivity Club.