Member Spotlight – Tabbitha Ashford
As we wrap up our celebration of Black History Month, Region IV would like to highlight our next member. Tabbitha Ashford is the Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. Tabbitha has been at St. Edward’s since 2017, and during this time she has also served Region IV and the Association in the following roles:
- Virtual TexFit Committee 2021
- Region IV Conference Planning Committee 2019-present
- NIRSA Triventure Fitness and Wellness Committee 2017
- NIRSA Fun Run Committee 2017
Tabbitha has had a relatively unique pathway into recreation that didn’t begin until the summer before graduate school. She attended Dallas Baptist University for her undergraduate degree, a school that did not have a recreation department. Although Tabbitha was a track & field student-athlete and “probably wouldn’t have fully utilized it even if it had existed,” her first exposure to recreation was when she was looking for part-time work before starting grad school at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
What was “supposed to be a job to hold me over until I found a ‘real job,'” this was ultimately Tabbitha’s entry point into the world of campus recreation. From a Fitness Floor Monitor to Student Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness, Tabbitha’s opportunities went from zero to 100 real quick! From supervising other students to assisting with sponsorships for a departmental 5K, from facing her fears of public speaking in staff trainings and presentations to learning how to run a conference (UTSA hosted the Region IV Conference in 2012), one thing became evident – Tabbitha knew she wanted to pursue a career in campus recreation.
With the guidance and mentorship of the UTSA professional staff, Tabbitha opted to pursue a couple of internships – the first as the Operations and Member Services Intern at Texas A&M University-Commerce, the second as the Fitness and Facility Management Intern at the University of Notre Dame. Both experiences expanded her knowledge and higher education experience, setting her up to transition into her first full-time role as the Fitness and Instructional Programs Coordinator at Notre Dame.
During her nearly four years at Notre Dame, Tabbitha expanded her fitness experience, obtaining a number of certifications, teaching group fitness classes and training clients one-on-one. She even taught a 1-credit First Year Experience course. When an opportunity opened up at St. Edward’s that allowed Tabbitha to return to Texas, she very happily returned home (and to Region IV).
Region IV is home! It’s where my career started as a student, and even though I left for four years, it’s where I was able to return as a professional with open arms from previous supervisors, peers I had worked with, and numerous individuals I had met along the way. My more notable conference experiences are connected to Region IV (shout out 2013 Student Lead-On at LSU) and I just love our community!
Tabbitha was originally scheduled to join for the Region IV Black History Month Conversation Series, but due to the winter storm and frigid temperatures that wiped out power and other utilities across much of Texas, she was unable to participate. Still wanting to provide the space to highlight her experience as a Black woman in campus recreation and amplify her voice, she responded to a few questions.
Share your experience as a Black woman specifically in the fitness industry. What are some challenges you or other instructors and trainers face?
Similar to other spaces I enter, I am still often the only or one of very few Black women in the room whether I am participating in a fitness class or (as) the instructor. As an instructor/professional in the field, I am reminded every day of the importance of representation and how my presence impacts our campus community. Overall, I think the main challenge still facing Black fitness professionals/participants is access. To even have the opportunity to financially pursue the necessary certifications and trainings needed to excel in the field is a privilege in its own right and thus often limits the number of Black fitness instructors and trainers employed at rec centers/studios. As a result, it becomes very evident to participants that the studio/rec center does not have a fitness instructor/trainer that looks like them and may reduce their likelihood to participate. As a Black woman in the fitness industry, I also find myself battling thoughts of “imposter syndrome” or overthinking my class workouts/music selections to make sure they are as accommodating as possible.
What challenges exist in recruiting a diverse participant group in group fitness classes?
When I think about class participants, some barriers may include but not limited to: financial means to pay for classes, access to proper workout attire, access to equipment for non-studio workouts, basic awareness/knowledge of certain fitness formats (i.e., mind and body classes) or exercises. For some black women specifically, managing our hair also plays a role in determining when we might workout and/or what type of workout we may be even willing to do. For example, if I were to straighten my hair on a Monday, it’s possible I would avoid any and all activities that might make me sweat until at least Friday. Not every black woman, but just an example. As a professional who oversees both fitness programs and our fitness center, I see some of (those) barriers play out two-fold as it relates to fitness classes and general recreation.
What can non-Black folks do to be better allies/accomplices in the pursuit of racial justice?
Acknowledge that your words can only go so far; action must follow your sympathy and/or statements of support if we are to ever see any real racial justice.
Education is also key! While it is not my job as a Black woman to educate you, I am willing to engage in dialogue and offer insight to individuals who have proven to have done their own self-education. As part of your education, also be sure to engage with media/materials focused on Black joy and not just Black trauma. Also, remember that intersectionality is real and important!
My experiences as a Black woman are not the same as others. Don’t assume you can just lump our experiences together or that I have even experienced something that you may have read about.
Click here to connect with Tabbitha via e-mail!
