Her Story
About Catalina
Catalina Casaru has spent 20 years in education, where she teaches exercise science while focusing on mentoring and developing programs for students, particularly first-generation students. She emphasizes starting with the end in mind to help students grow, find their pathways, and achieve their goals, such as earning doctorates. With degrees including an undergraduate in business administration and a minor in Italian, a bachelor's in physical education, and a master's and PhD in Human Performance Kinesiology, all from the University of Alabama, she combines her business background with her athletic experience to create a dynamic profession involving teaching, research, and service. She values the freedom to pursue creativity within her role and attributes her success to her parents' strong work ethics, family focus, and emphasis on integrity and character.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catalina
01What do you attribute your success to?
My parents have strong work ethics and put family first. Also being godly and having integrity after that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Tough times are only going to be for a short period of time. If going through a growth spurt, buckle down, do whatever you have to do to achieve that goal, and things are going to look brighter on the other side.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you have a family, get outside help and delegate lower tasks because you can't be everything to everybody and work at home is not compensated.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Moving from teaching role after 20 years into managerial role, where women are not quite embraced and there is misogyny, but challenges can be surpassed with tactics and knowledge.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is number one, character is number two, and everything else can be trained. Without the first two, you cannot train yet on professional development.
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