A student promotes fitness and gains a new understanding of well-being by teaching Campus Recreation classes

By her second semester at Clemson University, Allison Dierks ’25 — a double major in economics and psychology from San Louis Obispo, California — was leading her own group fitness class. Now, as a senior, she leads three weekly Campus Recreation classes and works as an intern alongside Bill Dunn, assistant director for well-being. In this interview, Dierks reflects on her role in Campus Rec and how the role has reframed her understanding of well-being. 


When did you first get involved with Campus Recreation as a student instructor?

Allison Dierks: I talked to a girl during sorority recruitment who was an instructor, and she said, “You should come to my class.” I was living in Douthit Hills, where the class was taught, so I went. After the first class, she said, “You’re good at this; you look like you’re having fun. You should apply to do the job.”

I was trained to teach group fitness my first semester, and I had my own class by the second semester of my freshman year. Since then, I’ve been a format lead, where I oversee all the other strength cardio instructors. I teach hip-hop kickboxing and weightlifting.

Why is strength and recovery important to well-being?

AD: Specifically for physical fitness, well-being and wellness look different for everyone. A lot of people think of running or competitive sports when it comes to being fit, but I am glad that strength and recovery training has become more prominent in the media recently in terms of wellness. Some might not be capable of participating in certain kinds of wellness activities, so strength training and recovery are effective ways for them to still take care of their bodies. The class I teach is women’s weightlifting, and my goal is to help women feel comfortable in the gym. 

Allison Dierks '25 teaching a fitness class.

“The internship has changed the way I define well-being. Campus Rec utilizes a wellness wheel with eight dimensions. … I’ve learned a lot about what well-being is and how I can incorporate it in different aspects of my life.”

Allison Dierks

What does a typical fitness class look like at Clemson?

AD: Most of our fitness classes are 45 minutes. There are a few that are 30 minutes or an hour. My strength training classes typically include up to 10 people. Hip-hop kickboxing classes are usually 10–25 people. All classes include a warmup and a cooldown. We provide progressions and regressions. For my kickboxing class, I perform cardio with the students. In weightlifting, it’s a lot more self-guided; I’m at the front, helping students with their form, as opposed to doing the class with them.

Note: Instructors are required to take a leisure skills course entitled Fitness Leadership as part of the certification process. Classes range from F45 and kickboxing to cycling, yoga, Pilates and beyond. Instructors are required to teach a minimum of two classes per week. Classes are held between 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 p.m. on weekdays, with a recovery class on Sunday afternoons. 

What are some of Campus Rec’s most beneficial well-being resources?

AD: I love the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex. Even beyond Campus Rec, it’s a great place to study. It has so many available resources. I love renting paddle boards regularly, and the firepit at the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center is fun. I also love the community of Campus Rec employees. While I work in one specific department, we all get to know each other and train together at least once a year. I meet so many students who come and use our facilities, so it has built a huge community for me at Clemson. 

What is the most valuable thing you’ve taken away from your well-being internship?

AD: Mr. (Bill) Dunn is in a newer position, and he’s creating a lot of new programming for students. Inside the Swann Fitness Center at Fike Recreation Center, we have a wellness zone, and we’re getting a new room next semester, which will include zero-gravity chairs and massage chairs. We’re doing aromatherapy classes. There are a lot of available wellness resources not related to group fitness that students aren’t aware of yet because they’re so new.

The internship has changed the way I define well-being. Campus Rec utilizes a wellness wheel with eight dimensions. Previously, I didn’t think of well-being encompassing areas such as financial and occupational wellness. I’ve learned a lot about what well-being is and how I can incorporate it in different aspects of my life. The internship has made it easier for me to manage my own wellness because when you realize it’s more than just physical and emotional, it takes pressure off. You realize, “I’m taking care of myself in all these ways, so if I’m not perfect in my physical or emotional wellness, I’m still well. There are lots of other things I can do to take care of myself.”

As a student, why is well-being important?

AD: It’s a great form of preventative medicine. Coming to a school — especially knowing Clemson has many out-of-state students — can be a really big change, so to best move through that change and approach your new life, it’s important to be able to take care of yourself. Practicing wellness is a really great way to do that.


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