Meet the Wellness Center team
Our Wellness Center team is made up of passionate, degreed professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness and wellness goals. Our licensed massage therapists and certified Reiki practitioners are here to help you restore balance, relieve stress, and support your overall well-being and our certified fitness instructors bring energy, expertise, and encouragement to every session.
Meet our massage therapists Meet our personal trainers
Jessica Hotard, Director
I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiotherapy in 2005 and went on to earn my Master of Science in Sports Administration in 2006. That same year, I began my career at the Wellness Center as a Health Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer, also serving as the Sunday Lead. In 2012, I was promoted to the Wellness Center Supervisor, where I supported the Director in overseeing daily operations and ensuring our members received the highest level of service. Six years later, in 2018, I stepped into my current role as Wellness Center Director, where I manage our staff, classes, services, and members. I hold certifications in Les Mills Body PUMP, Les Mills RPM, Aquatic Exercise Association, CPR, and Water Safety.
Even as Director, I believe it’s important to stay connected with our members, which is why I continue teaching a few classes each week. I played competitive soccer through high school and college, and spent five years on the Louisiana State Soccer Team. In 2024, I was honored to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for my contributions to the soccer program. What I love most about working at the Wellness Center is that no two days are ever the same. I also value the strong relationships I’ve built with both staff and members. I lead by example and believe in never asking anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself.
Karl Lehmann, Wellness Lead
I graduated from LSU in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and have been working in the fitness industry ever since. In 2009 I joined the Wellness Center as a Health Fitness Instructor, a role I served in for five years, before becoming Wellness Lead in 2014. As Wellness Lead, I make sure our staff have the tools and support they need to do their jobs well, while also ensuring our members have a safe and positive experience at the Wellness Center. I also continue to teach several classes each week and hold certifications in Les Mills RPM, Basic Water Safety, and CPR Instruction through the American Heart Association.
What I enjoy most about working at the Wellness Center is connecting with our members—many of whom truly start to feel like family. I was a collegiate swimmer, occasionally coach at the high school level, and I’m also an avid runner. A fun fact about me: I’m absolutely obsessed with volleyball—whether it’s playing, watching, or keeping up with teams and players from around the world!
Kathryn Prater, Wellness Lead
I graduated from East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce) in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health. Over the past 22 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in different states and cities, gaining unique experiences and approaches to training and teaching. I joined the Wellness Center in 2019 as the AM Wellness Lead, where I focus on putting our members first and ensuring they receive top-tier customer service.
I hold certifications in Les Mills RPM, CPR, and Water Safety, and I truly enjoy teaching because it allows me to see members’ progress and share in their excitement when they reach their goals. Sports have been a lifelong passion for me—I played volleyball, basketball, softball, cross country, and soccer, even walking on to my Division II collegiate soccer team. A fun fact: while playing soccer, I had surgery to remove an extra bone in my foot, making me my own case study in school!
For me, the Wellness Center feels like a home away from home. I love connecting with members, learning new things about them, and enjoying the energy they bring—there’s truly never a dull moment.
Allison Malbrough, Health Educator
I’m a New Orleans native and graduated from LSU in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Fitness Studies concentration. I joined the Wellness Center in 2008 as a Health Fitness Instructor and became Health Educator in 2017. In this role, I provide our instructors with up-to-date health and exercise information, coordinate certification workshops, and help deliver health programs and lectures for our members.
I hold certifications with the American Council on Exercise as a Personal Trainer, the Aquatic Exercise Association as an Aquatics Instructor, and the American College of Sports Medicine as an Exercise is Medicine Specialist, along with CPR/AED and Basic Water certifications. Outside of work, dance has been a lifelong passion of mine—I started at age 3, performed through high school and college, and was part of the LSU Dance Ensemble.
In 2010, I re-focused on my own health and wellness by training as a runner. Since then, I’ve completed eight half marathons, several 10Ks, and one full marathon. That journey taught me the importance of courage, determination, patience, and strength—and that no matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, nothing is impossible!