The Department of Wellness and Recreation is the University's hub for resources in mind, body, and spirit. For 30 years, the Herbert Wellness Center has served the campus community by offering memberships, group fitness classes, summer camps, and a wide range of wellness programs right on campus.
On Thursday, January 29, the University community gathered to celebrate the Herbert Wellness Center’s 30 years of service. Students, staff, faculty, and members joined University leadership for a reception honoring the milestone. Retired Founding Director Norman C. Parsons, Jr., who dedicated more than 40 years to the University, was recognized for spearheading the revitalization of wellness programming at the University of Miami.
“Over 30 years ago, Norm C. Parsons Jr., Herbert Wellness Center Founding Director, had a vision to develop a facility that was not just for working out and sports but also for holistic well-being. The Herbert Wellness Center has actualized this goal as a space for students, alumni, faculty, and staff to come together and sustain a commitment to a healthy lifestyle,” said Pat Whitely, EdD, senior vice president of the Division of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement.
Building on Parsons’ vision, former Student Government President Irwin Raji, 1990-1992, reflected on the student-led referendum in the 1990s that helped bring the facility to life and shared insights into the process of turning the initiative into reality.
Today, the Herbert Wellness Center is a vibrant hub for student life and the largest student employer on campus, offering opportunities for students to gain lifelong skills and leadership experience. Current Executive Director Tony Musto, PhD, continues this legacy by hiring student employees across numerous areas within the department, providing diverse professional development pathways.
To commemorate 30 years of impact, explore the history of the Herbert Wellness Center through a curated collection of photos here.
