Personal Trainer Bios
Overview
Meet our certified USC personal trainers. Whether your goal is building muscle, improving endurance, or learning proper technique, our diverse team of campus experts is here to design a custom fitness plan tailored just for you.
Our Trainers
Alessandra
Alessandra is a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach through NASM. She is double-majoring in Human Biology and French and double-minoring in dance and music performance at USC, and also works in the Biomechanics lab. Growing up in an active family, Alessandra learned to love movement from a young age. She is a former competitive gymnast, a current dancer, and got her black belt in taekwondo when she was 12. Her gymnastics career was cut short due to a knee injury, which inspired her to create her own workout programs during the recovery process. In the gym, she emphasizes proper technique and exercise execution as well as functional movement and injury prevention. Her favorite workouts include HIIT cardio, lifting (with a particular fondness for shoulder day), barre, and taking dance classes at Kaufman and at various studios in LA. If you find her in the gym, she will likely be listening to Taylor Swift!
Arun
Arun is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer and a junior studying Quantitative Biology at USC. He specializes in hypertrophy and strength training, with a coaching philosophy that emphasizes discipline and mental resilience. For Arun, the gym is more than just a place to build muscle—it’s a space to cultivate habits and a mindset that carry over into every area of life. His own journey with fitness has been transformative, and he’s passionate about helping others experience the same growth.
Fun fact: Arun played hockey for 13 years.
Ben
Ben is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and is a junior majoring in Human Biology with a minor in business. He specializes in hypertrophy, resistance, and strength training. As a trainer, Ben enjoys helping others progress and feel more confident in themselves. Additionally, he believes that fitness is more than just the workout but a way to develop mental strength, self-discipline, and positive mindsets. Ben likes to stay active by weightlifting, running, and playing sports recreationally.
Fun fact: Ben’s favorite song is Linger by The Cranberries.
Ishmael
Ishmael is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer and U.S. Air Force veteran currently studying Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence. He’s especially passionate about helping new gym-goers feel confident and empowered, because he knows firsthand how intimidating the gym can be, given that he didn’t grow up exercising, but rather discovered his love for fitness much later in life during his time in the military. With experience as a physical training leader in the Air Force and now as a personal trainer at USC, he brings a well-rounded, inclusive approach to fitness, allowing him to work well with individuals of all ages and experience levels. Ishmael specializes in weight training, with a focus on muscle hypertrophy and body recomposition. Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose fat, or feel stronger, he’s got you covered. He’s also passionate about educating his clients so they feel confident continuing their fitness journey on their own.
Jace
Jace is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer and is a junior studying Cognitive Science at USC. He specializes in strength, functional, and conditioning training. His approach combines scientific understanding with practical training. He is a sports enthusiast, enjoying basketball, long-distance running, volleyball, and swimming to stay active. Jace believes fitness should be consistent, enjoyable, and balanced for mental and physical well-being. He aims to make exercise a rewarding part of your lifestyle.
Fun fact: Jace was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and has served in the Korean Army for two and a half years!
Jared
Jared Lizama is a certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a junior at USC studying Computer Science and Cybersecurity. He specializes in strength training and hypertrophy, with additional expertise in endurance, muscle building, and power. In his free time, Jared enjoys bodybuilding, basketball, and traveling. He is passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and believes in making measurable progress with structured programming and measurable growth. Jared loves helping others build strength, confidence, and discipline in and out of the gym and would be excited to help you reach and exceed your fitness goals.
Muad
Muad is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer and a rugby player for USC. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Muad has a great passion for helping others achieve their unique fitness and strength goals. Whether you’re trying to feel more confident and move more efficiently or you want to improve your overall sports performance as an athlete, it always ignites that same passion in him to help people become better versions of themselves than yesterday.
He enjoys working with both athletes looking to enhance sport performance and individuals seeking to build strength and move better for everyday life. He specializes in sports performance, strength and conditioning, functional movement patterns, weightlifting, and powerlifting. He believes in helping others reach Arete, the pursuit of excellence in whatever skill or goal you are striving for, while maintaining longevity and treating the body as your garden: something to nurture, strengthen, and grow over time. His favorite ways to stay active are playing rugby, lifting heavy weights, playing basketball, hiking, and backpacking.
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