Professional Staff
Personal Trainers/Fitness Instructors
Stacy Trukowski, M.S., ACSM
Stacy an Associate Director of Recreation. She is the Director Rutgers Fitness, the fitness class program and the Werblin Fitness Center. She has a M.S in Exercise Science from James Madison University and a B.S. in Sports Medicine.
Stacy is also an American College of Sports Medicine Health and fitness instructor, a studio cycling instructor, Yogafit instructor, and IM=X Pilates instructor. Stacy has over 15 years of experience in personal training, group exercise instruction and fitness management.
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Anne Finetto, M.A.
Anne Finetto is a Fitness Coordinator for Rutgers Recreation, where she manages the Rutgers Tech Gym and Spa, Cook/Douglass Fitness Center and the FitCheck program. She has a B.A. from Rutgers University and a M.A. in Applied Physiology from Columbia University. She is a certified personal trainer and teaches many classes including Spinning, kickboxing, yoga, pilates, step, total body training, Bosu, and willPower and grace.
Anne grew up in New Jersey and has been instructing classes for more than 15 years. She also enjoys running and competes in numerous local road races and triathlons.
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Dave DiFabio, M.A., C.S.C.S., U.S.A.W.
Dave is a Rutgers alumnus who is currently the College Avenue Fitness Center, Power Gym, & Personal Training Coordinator. He holds a B.S. and an M.A. in Exercise Science. Dave is a recognized Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a USAW Weightlifting Coach. Dave teaches classes such as Spinning, Kickboxing, Boot Camp, Kombat Conditioning, and Muscle Conditioning.
For three and a half years, prior to joining the professional staff at Rutgers College Recreational Services, Dave worked as a Health and Fitness Specialist at Sony Music's Corporate Fitness Center in Manhattan. That is where he had the opportunity to train Alicia Keys.
Dave specializes is Functional Training, Sports Conditioning, and Injury Prevention. Dave has worked with special populations, healthy adults, children, and athletes including members of the Scarlet Knights Varsity Men's Soccer Team. Dave has published numerous articles & research in Men’s Fitness, Men’s Health, and the ACSM’s Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
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Samantha Coren Plum, M.A., ACE
Samantha is a Fitness Coordinator for Rutgers Recreation, where she manages the Rutgers Fitness Center and New Beginnings. She is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor with more than 12 years experience in the fitness industry, working with diverse populations. Samantha's certifications include ACE Personal Training, Spinning, YogaFit, Primary Aerobics, Step, Pilates, and willPower and grace.
Samantha grew up in Massachusetts and received a B.A. in Sociology from Brown University and a M.A. in Sociology from Rutgers University. She enjoys staying active outside of work by taking her energetic dog for long walks every day, rain or shine.
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Gil Bubay
A Rutgers College Graduate, Gil has an Advanced-Level Personal Training Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has sixteen years of personal training experience working in all phases and levels, to help clients reach a variety of goals. Gil has been involved with weightlifting and sports conditioning for 24 years. Gil is also Olympic Weightlifting coach in the Power Gym.
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Jon Fass, C.S.C.S., U.S.A.W.
Jonathan is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA), a Certified Health & Fitness Instructor (ACSM), and a USA Olympic Weightlifting Club Coach. He is currently a doctoral student in the City University of New York's Physical Therapy Program.
Jonathan designs and implements the exercise programs for Rutgers students, student athletes, and faculty/staff. He has also been an instructor for Rutgers Recreation, and has taught a variety of recreation courses. Jonathan is a regular contributor to various fitness publications, including Men's Fitness and Mind & Muscle magazine.
Jonathan is also an alumnus of Rutgers College, where he graduated with honors in Political Science and History. While a student, he was the president and instructor of the Rutgers Kung Fu Club. In addition to working at RU, Jonathan has worked in numerous rehabilitation settings, where he has designed and monitored exercise programs for rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation populations.
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Fran Biondo
Fran is a middle school science teacher. She has been instructing for Rutgers Fitness for 15years. Fran teaches all classes, but lately her favorite class to instruct is Fitness Yoga. She has been instructing Yoga Classes for the Rutgers football team. Fran is certified in spinning, kickboxing, Step, Boxaerobics, personal training, and Yogafit. She also enjoys weight training and had placed in the Miss Fitness body building competition.
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Fred Jimenez
Fred is a Rutgers Alumnus. He earned his B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from Cook College. Fred is a U.S.A.W. Certified Club Level Weightlifting Coach. Fred is a Health & Fitness Specialist at JFK Rehabilitation Institute where he works with Post-Rehab patients. At Rutgers, Fred Works as a Personal Trainer, FitCheck Clinician, and Power Gym Coach. He also trains many of the sports club teams. Fred's hobbies include reading, playing guitar/bass, running, and biking.
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Molly Lambert
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Cheryl Brown Romano
Cheryl is a full time personal trainer and group fitness intructor working at Rutgers, Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center, Princeton University, and Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Health and Wellness Center. She is a Rutgers graduate and has an M.B.A. from Rider University. Her certifications include A.C.E. personal trainer, A.F.A.A. group fitness instructor, Spinning, Body Pump, Body Step, and Powerhouse Pilates. Her favorite class to teach at Rutgers is B.L.T.
Cheryl grew up in New Jersey playing volleyball and softball. She only recently decided she wanted to do fitness full time and left the corporate world for fitness.
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Tara Cominski
Tara is a second year graduate student in the Neuroscience Ph.D. programs at Rutgers and UMDNJ. She grew up in Clark, New Jersey and has been instructing group fitness classes for four years. She is certified by A.C.E., Pilates, and Spinning.
Lisa's favorite class to teach at Rutgers is Pilates, but she also instructs kickboxing, step, and muscular conditioning.
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Bhumi Afzal
Bhumi is a recent graduate of the Excercise Science Department at Rutgers. She works full time managing corporate fitness at J & J. She is a personal trainer for Rutgers Fitness and instructs fitness yoga, Cycling and muscular conditioning classes. She is certified by A.C.E. and Yogafit. Bhumi grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey and also enjoys running.
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Pablo Ambrosio
Pablo graduated from Rutgers with a B.A. in Philosophy. Pablo grew up in New Jersey playing soccer and participating in professional mixed martial arts fighting. He is a trainer at the Rutgers Power Gym and an assistant coach of the Olympic Weight Lifting Team for New Jersey.
Pablo has been teaching classes and personal training for 4 years. His favorite class to teach is Kombat Conditioning , but also instructs bootcamp, Ab Attack, weight training, sports conditioniong, and BOSU. He is certified by NSCA.
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Karen Estok
Karen, a graduate of Rutgers, is a program assistant for the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Services at UMDNJ. Karen is a certified kickboxing, spinning and Willpower & Grace(TM) instructor. Karen grew up in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and enjoys weight training and running.
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Meryl Epstein
Meryl is a Graduate of Rutgers College. She holds a BS in exercise science with a minor in psychology. She has worked as a staff member at the Easton Avenue facility, and is a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. In addition she is a Teaching Assistant in the Exercise Science & Sports Studies department. Under the tutelage of Dr. Arent, CSCS, she works as a research assistant. Meryl assists with a myriad of studies involving sport and exercise physiology and developing products for nutraceutical companies. She hopes to enroll in a masters program in exercise physiology in autumn of ’07.
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