Faculty of Kinesiology

A sunny Wednesday in January – a perfect day to head to UNB Saint John to meet with Natasha Kelly, the Director of Athletics on the Saint John campus and a BRSS alumnae. At a leadership development workshop in Fredericton in June 2022, mere days before she moved into this leadership role, I had the chance to reconnect with Natasha for the first time since she had been a student in my class. Learning about this career achievement, I found myself curious to  know more about her career path, the experiences she had collected along the way, and what she was most passionate about in her work. She seemed the ideal candidate for a spotlight!

Growing up in Hampton, NB, Natasha developed a strong connection with recreation and sport and with the UNB Saint John campus from an early age. As she toured me around the facility, she mentioned memories of playing basketball in the gym on campus when she was young. When she came to UNB Fredericton for her degree, the intramural sport opportunities were plentiful, and she took full advantage. As she listed them, it seemed to me she did them all,  including broomball! She spoke fondly of living on campus, her leadership roles in residence,  and the experiences she had with REDS Recreation. It is not suprising that she now enjoys a leadership role in athletics that “has students at the forefront” of the work she does. She is clear that her desire is to “bring people together through sport” and to support the wellbeing of faculty and staff on the Saint John campus, strengthen the relationships with community, and to continue to engage campus members once they become alumni.

Soon after graduation, Natasha began work on the Saint John campus in the Medical Health Centre. Like many recent graduates, she was still considering her long-term career options, and one of her interests was working in the health field. When some cutbacks on campus had her facing a layoff, she was encouraged to consider an opportunity within the Department of Athletics, Recreation & Wellness as the Campus Recreation and Sport Club Coordinator. It was a good fit. About 4 years into that leadership role, the Varsity Coordinator position opened up. She was hired. As she described what her new position involved, I was struck by the breadth of her duties – from scheduling teams and arranging travel to overseeing game-day operations and supporting recruitment activities. She admitted she had a lot to learn. The outcome: a deeper passion for the work her Department does and a broader set of skills and experiences that prepared her well to fulfill her current role as Director of Athletics.

I asked about her challenges and goals as Director of Athletics. The two seemed to go hand in hand. Natasha spoke about UNB Saint John being a commutor campus. Campus residences house about 350 students. The larger balance of students are only on campus during the day or part of the day – something of which Natasha remains mindful when she considers engaging students. Assessing interests and needs of student members is one strategy for maintaining awareness of how best to align programs and services with students’ lives. She expressed a strong desire to grow what her Department does. She shared seeing potential for collaborations (i.e., Integrated Health Initiative) that could further support both the campus and broader community. The capacity that currently exists within the Department, though, makes that challenging. Communicating the importance of health and wellness and converting that awareness to participation in recreation and sport – both a challenge and a goal.

As we wrapped up our time together, Natasha shared with me that there were many people along her journey that have influenced who she has become. Her parents were active and served as role models. They supported her in having recreation and sport opportunities. She had physical education teachers and coaches who left an impression and facilitated positive experiences. REDS Recreation experiences were important in her student life. In leading her staff, she wants to foster a strong understanding that through their leadership roles and the opportunities the Department provides, they could “ignite passion in others for recreation and sport,” and leave a lasting impression that ultimately supports continuity of participation and ongoing health and wellbeing.