New Jersey City University Athletics

 
Sergio Villamizar is one of the most recognizable individuals in the NJCU Athletics Department by those who frequent the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Now in his 26th year at the University in 2019-20, Villamizar has served as NJCU’s Fitness Center Coordinator, Intramurals Coordinator and physical conditioning instructor since he joined the staff on January 3, 1995.
 
As coordinator of nearly 40 activities as part of the NJCU intramurals series, he oversees an extensive, highly competitive and varied sports program that provides an opportunity for both team and individual participation on a non-varsity level for the entire University community.
 
As coordinator of the JMAC’s Fitness Center, he manages one of the top collegiate centers in the region, with membership plans available to NJCU students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, senior citizens, firefighters, police officers, and private corporations. Through his expertise in athletic fitness, personal training programs can be developed for all members of the JMAC community ranging from the healthy 17-year-old athlete to the senior citizen recovering from heart disease.
 
Active in many fitness organizations, Villamizar is currently a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), United States Fencing Association (USFA), United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) and Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). He holds a New York State Teacher’s Certification, and is also certified as a first aid/CPR/AED instructor. He holds a level one fencing instructor certification in all three weapons. He is certified as a medical exercise specialist, strength and conditioning specialist, and PADI scuba assistant instructor.
 
He also is responsible for the CPR certification of NJCU’s coaches and athletic staff, and teaches several undergraduate courses at the University. All together, he works among the longest hours of anyone in the athletic department.
 
Academically at NJCU, Villamizar has taught courses in fencing, step aerobics, weight training, nutrition, aerobic conditioning, spinning, Kinesiology and various others offered by the Fitness, Exercise and Sport Department.
 
He has written three courses for the University—Basic Fencing, which was approved by the University Senate in 1996; Emergency Personnel Fitness, approved in 2008 and Self: I as Body, co-written with Professor Brian Gustafson, which was approved as a new general education course in 2015.
 
Villamizar is very active in community service projects. Among the programs he helps coordinate for NJCU is ‘Gifts from the Heart.’ Every year around the holiday season, the committee collects, gift wraps and distributes new or nearly new clothes and toys to children in need in the Jersey City community. He is also NJCU’s Coordinator of the annual ‘Diversity Stride’ walk-a-thon at Liberty State Park and in 2016-17 served on the executive committee of Relay for Life.
 
Consequently, Villamizar has been recognized for his commitment to community service. In 2001 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Health and Wellness Committee for seven years of service to the Health & Wellness Committee. In 2002, he was given the ‘Connecting and Creating Communities Award’ from the NJCU Division of Student Affairs in recognition of outstanding community service for his role in the ‘Gifts from the Heart’ program. In 2011, he was bestowed the ‘Excellence in Service to Students Award’ from the National Society of Leadership and Success in recognition of his exemplary service to the student body.
 
Most recently in 2013, Villamizar was presented with the ‘Team Captain of the Year’ award from the American Conference on Diversity for his continued leadership and dedication to the ‘Diversity Stride’ event.
 
Villamizar has served on more than 25 committees at NJCU during his career and made nearly a dozen presentations.
 

THE VILLAMIZAR FILE:

Fitness Center Coordinator/Intramurals Coordinator/conditioning instructor, New Jersey City University, 1995-present Distinguished Service Award from the Health and Wellness Committee, 2001 ‘Connecting and Creating Communities Award’ from NJCU Division of Student Affairs (2002) ‘Excellence in Service to Students Award’ from National Society of Leadership and Success (2011) ‘Team Captain of the Year’ award from American Conference on Diversity (2013) National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) member American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) member American Council on Exercise (ACE) member Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) member United States Fencing Association (USFA) member United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) member Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) member Holds New York State Teacher’s Certification Certified as a first aid/CPR/AED instructor Holds a level one fencing instructor certification in all three weapons Certified medical exercise specialist Certified strength and conditioning specialist Certified PADI scuba assistant instructor. Courses taught at NJCU include fencing, step aerobics, weight training, nutrition, aerobic conditioning, spinning and Kinesiology Courses written include: Basic Fencing (1996), Emergency Personnel Fitness (2008) and Self: I as Body (2015). Coordinates NJCU’s “Gifts from the Heart” and “Diversity Stride” community service efforts Fitness center supervisor, John Jay College, 1993-95 Has served on more than 25 committees at NJCU: Spectator and Fan Engagement (S.A.F.E.) Committee, 2016-present NJCU Day Planning Committee, 2016-17 Executive Committee, Relay for Life, 2016-17 Search Committee for Assistant Athletic Trainer, 2017 Fitness, Exercise & Sports Department Personnel Committee Search Committee for the Fitness, Exercise & Sports Department, 2015 Student Affairs Assessment Committee (SAAC), 2014 NJWELL Program Committee, 2014 Search Committee for Athletics (Volleyball Coach), Spring 2012 Partners in Prevention, Spring 2011 Continuing Education Committee for the American College of Sports Medicine in Greater New York, Spring 2011 Search Committee for Fitness, Exercise & Sports Department, Spring 2011 Search Committee for Athletics (soccer coach), Spring 2010 Public Health Emergency Mass Prophylaxis Distribution Plan, 2009-Present Building Emergency Coordinator, 2007-present Search Committee for ECLC, 2007 Professional Staff Promotions, 2006–2008 Judiciary Board, 2005-2009 Diversity Stride Coordinator, 2004-present Medical Emergency Response, 2004-present Search Committee for FES, Fall 2004 Search Committee for FES, Summer 2001 Gifts from the Heart, 1997-present Professional Development Committee, 1997 Health & Wellness, 1995-2010 Has made numerous presentations at NJCU: AARP student athlete presentation, 2014 and 2016 NJCU Women’s Network in Higher Education, Fall 2015 (twice) Mind, Body & Spirit Day, 2015 New Student Orientation, 2010 and 2011 International Student orientation, 2010 The Fitness, Exercise and Sports Department, 2006-2011 OSP. 2009 and 2010 SHANGO, 2008-10 The American Conference on Diversity. 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2015 The Health & Wellness Committee, 2009 Special Examiner for the New York Fire Department, 1995 and 2000 Aerobics instructor, Fashion Institute of Technology, 1992-95 Trainer, CUNY NYPD Police Cadet and female firefighters program Graduate assistant, Queens College, 1991-94 United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1984-88; earned rank of Marine Lance Corporal

 
He came to NJCU from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY, where he was the fitness center supervisor for John Jay’s cardiovascular fitness center from August 1993 until January 1995.There he trained clients in physical conditioning, administered physical fitness tests, provided health and nutritional counseling, and designed, prescribed, and monitored the progress of individuals in various exercise programs.
 
Villamizar worked as Special Examiner for the New York Fire Department in 1995 and 2000. He also served as a trainer for the CUNY NYPD Police Cadet program and the 1994 female firefighters training program. Prior to that, he was an aerobics instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology from 1992-95.
 
Villamizar is a February 1991 graduate of Queens College in Flushing, New York with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, and possesses a June 1994 Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Queens. In May 2007 he added a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from NJCU.
 
He was a graduate assistant at Queens from August 1991 through August 1994, instructing students in fencing, aerobics, volleyball, soccer, and physical conditioning. He served as a soccer summer camp instructor in 1992.
 
Before college, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from July 1984 until July 1988, earning the rank of Marine Lance Corporal, while training in communications, and performing duties as a wireman and switchboard operator.
 
A native of Colombia, South America, Villamizar resides in North Bergen, NJ, with his wife Mariella, 12-year-old daughter, Jahmilet, and eight-year-old son, Jayden.