Dr. Dawn Stenis

Biography

Dawn Stenis serves as the Associate Director of Fitness and Programs at Harvard University Recreation, bringing over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. Motivated by a personal tragedy during her sophomore year of college, Dawn has dedicated her career to promoting movement and fitness within the Harvard community. Her philosophy centers around helping individuals find joy in movement, which contributes to their overall health and active living. In her role, Dawn not only instructs group fitness classes but also advocates for the many resources available at Harvard that encourage active lifestyles. She is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, as well as a Master Trainer Educator for several fitness programs including Schwinn™ Cycling and BOSU® Fitness. Dawn has developed initiatives like Harvard Slim (now known as Harvard Shape-Up) and H-FIT (Harvard Fitness Instructor Training) to inspire members of the Harvard community to engage in healthy activities. She believes that everyone is a work in progress and is committed to making a positive impact on their fitness journeys.

Research Interests