Biography of Marissa Haugh | Owner of FIT, FULL AND FOCUSED.pdf

Marissa Haugh was born in Athens, Greece, but at a young age, her family relocated to New England. She had a diverse range of interests during her high school years, but always held an affinity for the health and well-being of babies and young children. Her decision to study and obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Rhode Island was a good career choice. This interdisciplinary degree focuses on individual and family well-being across the lifespan.

1. Biography of Marissa Haugh

Marissa Haugh of Oceanport, NJ, is a multifaceted Fitness/Nutrition Coach and Child Life
Specialist who transitioned from decades of higher education and professional life to being a
proud stay-at-home Mom. After high school, Marissa decided to earn a Bachelor’s of
Science in Human Development and Family Studies, before going on to pursue two Master’s
degrees - one in Fine Arts and another in Child Life Science. She has an insatiable appetite
for knowledge and a burning passion for helping younger generations learn and have a
higher quality of life through exercise and nutrition.

Haugh’s career in serving youth began during her college years when she interned as a day
care leader before taking on greater responsibility as a caseworker for Talbot Perkins
Children’s Services, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that specialized in nonsectarian and
interracial adoption and foster care services. This experience marked the beginning of her

2. journey to help children, not just in the classroom, but also during recreation. She took on
the responsibilities of Lead Camp Counselor for Epiphany Nursery School Camp, where she
developed art and cooking projects while managing day-to-day classroom activities,
solidifying her extensive experience in child development and healthcare.
Marissa, now self-employed in New Jersey, is dedicated to her clients as a Nutrition Coach
and Fitness Consultant. She assesses their medical conditions, eating habits, and fitness
levels to create personalized meal plans that reduce or eliminate unhealthy eating patterns,
demonstrating her commitment to their well-being.
EARLY LIFE and EDUCATION

Marissa Haugh was born in Athens, Greece, but at a young age, her family relocated to New
England. She had a diverse range of interests during her high school years, but always held
an affinity for the health and well-being of babies and young children. Her decision to study
and obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies at the
University of Rhode Island was a good career choice. This interdisciplinary degree focuses
on individual and family well-being across the lifespan.

Marissa's thirst for knowledge and her wide range of interests led her to continue her
education. She earned a Certificate in Fine Arts and Foundation from Parsons’ School of
Design in 2001 and a Master of Science in Child Life at Bank Street College in 2003. This
higher study in both fine arts and child sciences appealed to her creative and analytical
sides, and she could envision the impact she could make with young people using both art
and scientific knowledge.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

Marissa possesses the key qualities of patience, creativity, and empathy that it takes to
spend years helping young people learn and grow. In 1998, she became Head Teacher at
Trevor Day School in New York City, where she assisted in the day-to-day management of
classroom activities and assessed students’ needs and capabilities to ensure the appropriate
teaching techniques were being utilized. After obtaining her degrees, she transitioned into
medical settings, where she used her education and experience in early childhood
development to intervene and advocate on behalf of families who may be experiencing a
crisis.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

In 2003, after earning a Master’s degree in Child Life, a degree that prepared Marissa to use
therapeutic interventions to support children and families coping with hospitalization, illness,

3. and traumatic experiences, she took a role as a Child Life Specialist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in
New York. While there, she worked in various pediatric units of the hospital, helping young
patients deal with severe disease and injury, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, respiratory
illnesses, transplants, cancer HIV and AIDS. Her focus was always on child protection in
many forms, including being on the front line to address behavioral or emotional issues.

Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey later recruited Haugh as an Early Intervention
Developmental Specialist. In this position, she was responsible for multidisciplinary
assessments as well as child and family-focused intervention for infants and toddlers from
birth to three years old who have developmental delays. Haugh continues to be a staunch
advocate for young people in the areas of cognitive and social-emotional development as an
active member of the Child Life Council since 2001.

NUTRITION AND FITNESS COACH

Currently, Marissa Haugh is the Owner of FIT, FULL AND FOCUSED, based in Oceanport,
NJ. In 2017, Haugh obtained her Certificate in Fitness and Nutrition from the Academy of
Sports Medicine, giving her expert knowledge in nutrition science and behavior change
coaching through personalized meal planning. She has a reputation for providing detailed
nutritional coaching, sharing her understanding of macronutrients and micronutrients to
promote personalized goals such as weight loss or improved gym performance.

Not only does Marissa guide clients in ways to monitor calorie intake, she also educates
them about nutrition, ingredient selection, food preparation, and meal planning, to eliminate
unhealthy behaviors. She maintains a program that delivers science-based information for
better outcomes. Her strong interpersonal and organizational skills enable her to serve as a
motivator and educator as she builds a strong client-coach rapport.

In addition to fitness counseling, Haugh was an avid distance runner, having participated in
CrossFit competitions, a Tough Mudder, two Spartan races and numerous marathons.