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.
Spring 2020 UCAN Health Coaches
Hana Bennett
Hana is a fitness wellness major at NAU. She is originally from Southern California (Hesperia) and loves to be at the beach. She has been vegetarian for a little over 2 years and loves being around animals. Hana enjoys going outside and exploring Arizona. She hopes to pursue health coaching and worksite health promotion as a career.
Lyndsay Bottoms
Lyndsay is a senior Fitness Wellness major and Biology minor from Phoenix, Arizona. She is an avid gym goer and her hobbies include reading and drawing. Her goal is to become a personal trainer and a promoter of wellness ideas. She is very passionate about the integration of how to become your best self with finding enjoyment and happiness in living a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.
Julie Fiorucci
Julie is a senior Food and Nutrition major and she hopes to be able to continue counseling after she graduates from NAU. She is from Phoenix and loves to hike with her two dogs when the weather is nice, as well as reading and weight lifting. Her goals after college are to further her education and become a registered nurse while continuing to counsel clients in her free time. She is very passionate about helping people learn to eat intuitively and mindfully and create a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
Thomas Houston
Thomas is in his third year at NAU. He is from Phoenix, AZ and is a Fitness Wellness major with minors in Nutrition and Business. He enjoys being in the gym, hanging out with his dog Stanley, and has an unwavering passion for baseball.
Riley Perrin
Riley is a senior at NAU majoring in Nutrition & Foods. She is from Tucson, Arizona and her goal is to become a Registered Dietician and inspire others to lead healthier, happier lives. Her hobbies include cooking, dancing, and hiking with her pup!
Hannah Rahn
Hannah is a sophomore Psychology major from Anaheim, California. Her hope is to study Clinical Psychology and help others maintain a healthy lifestyle. She enjoys hiking, dancing, and swimming.
Darci Howard
Darci is a senior Psychology major with minors in Health and Wellness Coaching and Spanish. In the future, she hopes to go to graduate school to study individual, couples and family therapy. In her free time she likes to travel to new places and meet new people.
Rochelle Russell
Rochelle is a senior majoring in Nutrition and Foods from Page, AZ. In her free time, she enjoys spending time on Lake Powell canoeing, camping, fishing, and appreciating nature. When she’s not outside, she likes to read fantasy fiction, knit, and sew. Her goals are to one day become a Registered Dietitian and contribute to the fight against diabetes in the Native community.
Anna Whitley
Anna is a sophomore majoring in psychology. She is from Phoenix, Arizona. Her goal is to work in hospital administration and help improve patient care. She enjoys running, biking, and drawing.
Ashley Wilson
Ashley is a senior Fitness and Wellness major from Lancaster, California and the program manager for UCAN. She is a FIT instructor and a lover of promoting healthy mindsets and practices. She likes swimming, cooking, and painting. Her goal is to help people find the right path to lead a healthy lifestyle in the most fitting way possible.
Kelly Perez, MPH
Kelly has been coordinating the FIT program on campus for over a decade and is a newly certified health coach. She has been an educator for over 30 years and has spent almost 20 years working in the fitness industry. She is passionate about building relationships with others and helping them find their strengths and confidence-especially in the areas of health and wellness. Practicing self-compassion, setting realistic goals and building resilience are key components of her coaching practice. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking.
Health Coach Management Team
Dawn Clifford, PhD, RD
UCAN Director
Dr. Clifford is an Associate Professor in the Health Sciences Department and is the director of the Master of Public Health program at NAU. She’s a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and co-author of the book, Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness. Dr. Clifford teaches courses in nutrition education and counseling.
Natalie Papini, MA
UCAN Assistant Director
Natalie Papini is an Instructor in the Health Sciences Department. She teaches courses on health coaching, worksite wellness, and stress management in the Fitness and Wellness program. Prior to joining the faculty of NAU, she conducted research in the areas of body image and self-compassion and also worked as a health coach in the worksite wellness industry.
Kelly Perez, MPH
UCAN FIT Program Liaison
Kelly has been coordinating the FIT program on campus for over a decade and is a newly certified health coach. She has been an educator for over 30 years and has spent almost 20 years working in the fitness industry. She is passionate about building relationships with others and helping them find their strengths and confidence-especially in the areas of health and wellness. Practicing self-compassion, setting realistic goals and building resilience are key components of her coaching practice. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking.
Hana Bennett
UCAN Office Manager
Hana is a fitness wellness major at NAU. She is originally from Southern California (Hesperia) and loves to be at the beach. She has been vegetarian for a little over 2 years and loves being around animals. Hana enjoys going outside and exploring Arizona. She hopes to pursue health coaching and worksite health promotion as a career.