her Story
Christie Ann Cruise, PhD is a social justice educator and trainer with a passion for empowering women and girls to find their voices in a society that all too often silences them. Her passion has led her to serve as a mentor with the Reach & Rise Program of the Gateway Region YMCA, an advisory board member for Nia Kuumba Spirituality Center for African and African American Women, and treasurer for the Young Ambassadors of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis. As an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) certified group instructor and licensed Zumba instructor, Dr. Cruise advocates for women and girls of all shapes to use fitness as a tool to develop positive body image.
Dr. Cruise was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University, and a PhD from Bowling Green State University.
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