Posted Jan. 16, 2020 鈥� As a former events planner and development coordinator, Ashley Schwartz is quick to think on her feet. Those years of project management experience gave her the tools needed to succeed as program coordinator for the 兔子先生鈥檚 BOUNCE program.
Housed in the College of Education, BOUNCE, which stands for Behavior Opportunities Uniting Nutrition, Coaching and Exercise, is a community outreach and research program focused on healthy living. Through partnerships with schools, clinics and community centers, BOUNCE provides traditionally underserved communities in Houston with numerous opportunities, including nutrition education workshops and afterschool exercise programs.
Schwartz, who joined the BOUNCE team in September 2018, was drawn to the program鈥檚 emphasis on health and community.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to take a holistic approach to health; it鈥檚 not just about counting your calories,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he work we do empowers people to take charge of their life.鈥�
Learn more about Schwartz鈥檚 role with BOUNCE in the Q&A below.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I write proposals, coordinate staff and conduct administrative duties like budgeting. Our programs are not only outreach programs but also research. Right now, we鈥檙e in the process of data collection, so I鈥檓 doing a lot of staff scheduling and coordinating people.
What kind of data does BOUNCE collect?
We take clinical measurements, body measurements and participants鈥� height, weight and blood pressure. We also have surveys that address questions about anxiety, self-image and sleeping patterns.
What鈥檚 been most rewarding about working with the program?
We have such positive feedback from our participants. It can be really motivating to see kids asking questions or telling us things like, 鈥淢y mom and I looked up a 10-minute yoga class on YouTube and did it together.鈥� Making personal connections with participants was a part of research I hadn鈥檛 considered before.
What do you do for fun?
I like to go out to eat and try new places. I鈥檓 not a Houston native, although I鈥檝e lived here for a little over five years, so I feel like I could adopt it as my home. I like learning more about Houston and exploring more places.
If you were stuck on an island, what is one thing you would bring?
I would bring a way to listen to music. I love music, and it would be the best thing to help me feel less lonely.
What鈥檚 an unexpected skill you have?
I can actually read a map. This shouldn鈥檛 be considered a 鈥渟kill,鈥� but I think in the age of smartphones and Google Maps it is pretty impressive!
鈥� By Lillian Hoang
鈥� Photo by Abdias Sapon