If you’ve been to the E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center, you may have spotted Angel Barboza as both a coach and teacher. Over the past two years, Barboza has been influential as an employee of the gym: his passion for wellbeing has led him to guide students through classes and on their personal fitness journeys, and he has been instrumental in developing programs for first generation students to get invested in their health.
“First-Gen Fit is a course that I originally created as a part of my other job on campus with the First-Generation Student Center,” Barboza said. “As a mentor I often heard that students avoided the gym, and especially the first floor of the gym, due to intimidation and nervousness from being in that area amongst other people. So, in creating this class, I wanted them to work out in the same place that they felt nervous in so that they could learn that the space was for everyone no matter what level of fitness or experience they were at.”
Barboza’s teaching style is inclusive and unique. As a Kinesiology and Biology double major, he’s able to pull from his extensive knowledge of human body movement to tailor classes to each participant so that classes are accessible to all levels of fitness.
“I hope that when people take my class, they find new ways of challenging their bodies. I teach a course that is based on functional movement and using muscles you don't normally use on a daily basis,” Barboza said. “I mainly just want people to feel comfortable in my class, and feel challenged during the workout so that they can feel the soreness after my class.”
When not at the fitness center, you can find Barboza deep in his studies. Born and raised in Reno, and as a first-generation student himself, his love of the people in his hometown created in him a passion for their health. Interested in pursuing medicine, he knows he’ll be able to bring not only medical knowledge, but also connection to patients to his work, providing better healthcare in the future.
“My goal after graduating is getting into medical school and ultimately going into either Pediatric or Orthopedic Surgery. This job has allowed me to have a solid base in terms of human anatomy and how exercise can be a major preventative factor in many common health issues,” Barboza said. “This job also just allows me to talk to a lot of different people so my interpersonal skills are constantly being worked on, and I get to learn and hear about people's different experiences, beliefs, and overall lives.”
Working on Campus
Part of what makes the University campus so vibrant is the community of students, including Barboza, who work, study, live and play here. Students interested in on-campus jobs are encouraged to search open positions of every type to fit their schedule and career goals. To apply, visit the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno Job Opportunities page, and view open positions as an internal candidate by logging in with a net ID and password. There, students can search, apply and become a part of the Wolf Pack at work.
