Empower Personal Training

Katy Harris
MA, B.A., CSCS, NASM-CPT
Personal Trainer

Katy Harris graduated in May of 2011 with a Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the University of North Carolina. To receive her degree, Katy completed a master’s paper on recommendations to local health departments for afterschool programs for childhood obesity prevention. Katy also received her undergraduate degree with honors from UNC in Psychology in 2002, completing coursework for a double biology major as well as minors in cognitive science, Spanish, and philosophy.

Prior to entering graduate school, Katy was a full-time trainer at Empower from 2006 to 2009, receiving the Employee of the Year award in 2006. Katy also worked as a research assistant at the Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center and the Department of Neurobiology from 2002-2005 on projects ranging from visual brain mapping in normal subjects to localizing language and motor skills in brain tumor patients in preparation for surgery. She was also a Certified Nutrition Specialist from 2007-2008 and has worked for a Helping Hand and as a ropes course leader, sailing instructor, and guitar instructor.

Katy’s extracurricular activities have included a wide range of athletic experiences, outdoor recreation, and leadership positions. At the high school level, her team won the State Championship in basketball in 1995, she played volleyball and soccer at the varsity level, and enjoyed horseback riding and tennis recreationally. While in college, Katy was captain of the women’s ultimate Frisbee team, which she led to an 8th place finish at college nationals. Katy has competed nationally with a triangle team since 2002, which finished 2nd in the nation in 2005.

Katy also completed several leadership trainings and received a scholarship to Outward Bound in 1999. She also held the position of co-facilitating leader of the Emerging Leaders Program in 2001. Together with her academic training, these experiences have contributed to her knowledge of the scientific and psychological aspects of body movement at all ages as well as a belief in a holistic approach to health and wellness.

Katy is currently training clients at Empower and following career interests in corporate wellness through Empower community outreach, as well as teenage obesity prevention and improving the quality of healthcare. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and on the healthcare quality improvement team at an outpatient oncology clinic in the new UNC Cancer Center. In her free time she enjoys singing and playing the guitar, softball, foosball, pool and snowboarding.

To make an appointment to train with Katy, click here!