Harvard University Recreation

Betty Lou McClanahan

My name is Betty Lou and I am a personal trainer at Hemenway Gymnasium. I hold certifications in strength and conditioning including NSCA, CSCS, USA Weightlifting, USATF, swim coaching (USA Swimming anf ASCA Level 2) and personal training through ACE. I have a MDesS (2002) from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and an undergraduate degree from Binghamton University. My philosophy is “fitness, like swimming as well, is the accumulation of many small improvements over time. Individuals feel confident in pursuing their goals, helping them lead a longer, healthier life through exercise.”

Bonnie Ryan

My name is Bonnie. I am a NASM certified personal trainer and have been lifting weights since the mid 1990's! I believe that movement and strength go well beyond the gym. My objective is to help you build an exercise practice that supports fitness of mind and body as well as serves as a foundation for the things you do in your daily life. I have worked with a variety of clients but especially enjoy folks who want to be in it for the long haul and/or those who don't see themselves as particularly athletic. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish. 

Besides my passion for long term healthy habits and functional strength, I am a visual artist. I work in several different mediums. Making art is a daily practice for me. I especially love figure drawing. As an undergrad, I earned a BFA with a focus in figurative sculpture. My interest in understanding and working with the body began long before I started training!

Christine Whitmore

My name is Christine and I am a personal trainer who worked in outpatient rehabilitation for ten years. I have broad experience with many oprthopedic neuromuscular injuries and work well with clients who have greater physical needs. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from UNH and have been ACE certified personal training since 2005.

Dan Davis

My name is Dan Davis and I’m from Boston, MA. I am a NASM CPT and hold a CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist), and a CNC (Certified Nutrition Coach) certification as well. I was a multi-sport athlete growing up and played soccer and basketball up to the high school level. I also played tennis, swam, skateboarded, and snowboarded. I have been lifting for over 10 years and have over 20 years of athletic and exercise experience. My training focuses on corrective exercise, functional training, strength, stability, endurance, hypertrophy, and weight loss. I have personally overcome serious injuries and health issues, so I understand how challenging it can be to begin an exercise regimen and remain consistent with it. My goals for my clients are to instill the confidence in them to be able to create their own training programs and remain consistent with performing them through the knowledge and motivation gained during our time together. In my time away from training at Harvard, I am a father of two boys, a small business owner, an amateur musician, and an avid investor and trader in the financial markets. 

Gordon Levine

My name is Gordon Levine and I am a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified United States Olympic Weightlifting Coach (USAW-L1), and hold a Barbell Rehab Method certification. I have five years of experience in strength and conditioning working with everyone from those looking to build muscle or lose weight to amateur and professional athletes, and everyone in between. In addition to working at Harvard University, I have worked in the physical rehabilitation sector accruing over 4,000 hours of patient care progressing individuals around physical limitations, pain, and those returning to sport after finishing physical therapy.

My coaching philosophy is from an educator's point of view, meaning that I like to explain the purpose behind every exercise and programming decision. I am a nerd on all things exercise and love to share my knowledge! All of my clients receive customized programming to best serve their exercise goals and activity frequency. I also hold a Bachelor of Science from Boston University in Health Science. Outside of coaching, you’ll find me playing Men’s Club Rugby and progressing my own strength and conditioning goals in the gym!

Lindsay Riley

Hi my name is Lindsay and I am a NASM certified personal trainer. I have been strength training since 2015 and I love being able to share my love for lifting with others! I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in both Psychology and Neuroscience from College of the Holy Cross, from which I discovered a passion for holistic health through physical and mental wellbeing. My goal when training clients is to help them feel comfortable in gym spaces and building their exercise tool boxes so that they can feel empowered to take up space no matter how crowded the gym may be. I prioritize establishing a healthy relationship with physical activity and finding forms of exercise that are not only functional for everyday life but that also make clients feel good and excited to move and appreciate their bodies. My programming is individualized according to every client’s needs and goals, and my favorite part of being a personal trainer is watching clients grow in both strength and confidence!

Besides personal training, you can find me in the Harvard recreation facilities working as the Assistant Director of Facility Operations, as well as a group exercise instructor for cycle, row and lift, and total body conditioning. In my free time I love to run, hike, enjoy the outdoors, and spend quality time with my family, friends, and two dogs.

Mike Dingley

My name is Mike and I am a personal trainer at the Malkin Athletic Center. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Ithica College with a minor in Exercise Science. I am currently certified by NSCA, CSCS, NASM PT and AFAA. I specialize in helping clients work toward perfection and taking them to the next level.

Olivia Nastasi

My name is Olivia Nastasi. I am a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. I graduated from the University of New England majoring in applied exercise science with minors in nutrition and coaching. I have been a personal trainer and strength coach in many different settings with clients of all ages, from high school athletes to adults in their mid 80s. I believe exercise should be enjoyable and a time in your day to work on yourself in order to be your best self! I am passionate about fitness to help my clients build confidence in and outside of the gym. In my free time, I love to explore new places around the city, go to the beach (at all times of the year) and create content! My instagram/tik tok account is called LivLovesTraining, where I share my life and information about strength training, nutrition and building confidence in your life. This account is about training your mind, body and life to work for you (if you are interested you should check it out :) I look forward to being a part of your fitness and health journey! 

Ella Harber

My name is Ella and I am an NASM Certified Personal Trainer with specialties in Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement. I graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching. 

I grew up playing every sport under the sun, but after a back injury that restricted me from playing again, I discovered weight lifting. I found my love for strength training during this time because it gave me purpose and showed me that exercise is so much more than just contact sports. 

I strive to help people build strength, confidence, and healthy habits through training together. My goal is to meet every client where they are and guide them to reach their goals and discover how empowering movement can be

Reese Puchalski

My name is Reese, and I am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT). I graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Biophysics and a minor in Science Education. My fitness journey began in distance running (cross country and track) and has since grown to emphasize strength and hypertrophy training while simultaneously exploring diverse endurance disciplines. 

In college, I completed UCLA’s year-long Fitness Leadership Program, which combined classroom instruction with hands-on coaching experience to build a strong foundation in program design and implementation of fundamental training principles. I believe that strength and cardio training are essential tools for preventing injury, building physical fitness, and maintaining mental wellbeing. My coaching philosophy centers around crafting individualized programs informed by each individual’s unique exercise experience, health history, and wellness goals. I emphasize enjoying the process of training while working hard toward meaningful, measurable progress, challenging my clients to find and exceed their limits along the way. I am excited to share the magic of exercise with anyone committed to making movement a sustainable and empowering part of their life. Outside of coaching, I spend much of my free time pursuing my own strength and cardio goals, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

Emily Mattera

My name is Emily and I am the Assistant Director of Fitness with Harvard Recreation. 

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Hofstra University and a Master’s Degree also in Exercise Science from Northeastern University. I am a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS) through the NSCA and an Olympic Weightlifting Coach through USAW. 

I was a lover of running for many, many years but a chance encounter with CrossFit in 2009 - while I was in college - changed my mindset completely. CrossFit opened my eyes to strength training and helped me build confidence in myself and my body. I wanted to help other women (and men) build the same confidence in the gym and here, my passion for fitness really began. Through the years I’ve worked as a CrossFit coach and Personal Trainer in the Cambridge area, built a bootcamp-style gym from the ground up, and had the opportunity to work with athletes of all ages and levels. I look forward to continuing to grow our personal training program and help you become the best version of yourself!