Episode 141: Traci Smith, Fitness Coordinator at the University of South Florida

Show Description:

Traci Smith (@tesmith27) is the Fitness Coordinator at the University of South Florida. She is responsible for all fitness and training programs and equipment management at the university, while also performing research under Dr. Bill Campbell, in the area of Exercise Science.

In this interview, Traci talks about the critical elements of an optimal university fitness program, key lessons in leadership through her experiences at Butler/Purdue/USF, and the relationship between nutrition, fitness, and body composition.

Show Highlights:

3:00-12:00: Traci highlights her background, what she does through her Fitness Coordinator role at USF, and how she adapted to moving from Indiana to Florida.
12:00-27:30: Traci talks about her most significant impact on the fitness program at USF, the critical leadership lessons she has learned in her position, and how she landed the USF Fitness Coordinator role.
27:30-34:30: Traci reflects on her experience with powerlifting and how she has utilized her passion for teaching others.
34:30-49:00: Traci discusses her research experience at USF, the relationship between nutrition, muscle growth, and body composition, and how she incorporates this research into her coaching.
49:00-1:03:00: We ask Traci to talk about what her next pursuits will be, including how she wants to be remembered.