The Pilot

Issue date: 11/11/03 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Christina Tyler [Click to enlarge]

The schedule taped to the door of Teri Hassell's office tends to stay packed with people to see and things to do. With a full load of classes, a teenage daughter and a few interests of her own, the health and wellness department's Hassell has to balance her time wisely. "I stay pretty busy," she said.

Now in her fifth year at Gardner-Webb, Hassell teaches a variety of nutrition and wellness courses in both the day and GOAL programs, including the core course, Health 221. She also teaches several activity courses like jogging, weightlifting and aerobics.

Hassell's focus on health today is partly attributed to her upbringing.

With her father in the military, Hassell grew up moving around the country.

"Alabama and North Carolina are the two places I call home because I have family there," she said.

Her uncle taught ROTC while she was in school, and her involvement in it led her to join the Army National Guard; she's been a member for 24 years.

She obtained her bachelor's degree in physical education from GWU before going to Auburn University for a master's in education. After college, she stayed in Huntsville, Ala., where she developed health and wellness programs for NASA.

She ended up back at GWU when she went looking for a place to get her doctorate.

"I had always wanted to teach," she said.

In spring of 1999, there were two open spaces in the health and wellness department, left by faculty members who resigned because of illnesses.

"It just so happened that the classes they taught were my specialty," she said.

So Hassell and daughter Jena Stewart, now fifteen, moved to Shelby, where they have lived for the past four and half years. They will soon be moving to Mooresboro, N.C., however, where they will have more space for their shared hobby-- horses.

"We have three horses and one on the way," she said. "We're trying to establish a small farm." Besides caring for her animals, Hassell keeps up with her daughter's soccer and softball schedules, jogs and plays golf.

For Hassell, grading papers ranks as the least enjoyable part of her job, but it is outweighed by what she enjoys most-- helping students.

"The thing I like most about my job is the opportunity to help students adopt a healthier lifestyle," she said, "and to prepare my majors to go out into society and do the same."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools