Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Julie Rummel Mancuso: “The only thing I don’t do is Hip-Hop.”

Julie Rummel Mancuso is doing a rare thing: sitting. But she is hardly still. She fairly vibrates in her chair as she recounts her varied and eventful career. The windowless yet cheerful walls of her office in the PE/Event Center are covered in plaques and awards—1997 Outstanding Woman Award from the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services, 2000-01 Metro State Distinguished Service Award and the 2004 Education Award from the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities.

“Twenty years in August,” she shakes her head in disbelief. “In about my 15th year it dawned on me that this is my career!”

Now assistant director of Campus Recreation at Auraria, Rummel Mancuso started in 1986 as a classified employee for Metro State. “I actually came here because I wanted to take some classes.” Which she did while working for the busy Academic Affairs office. Her six-month stint as a temporary secretary was extended to four years. “Academic Affairs was the hub,” Rummel Mancuso recalls. She got to know the entire campus and many key people.

Meanwhile, the fast-paced job made Rummel Mancuso a regular participant at Campus Recreation. “I would come over here at lunch to de-stress.” Anne McKelvey, then director of Campus Recreation, was impressed by Rummel Mancuso’s commitment and consistency. “She asked me why I didn’t come to work here, since I’m here everyday.”

Rummel Mancuso became the office manager for Campus Recreation 16 years ago. She did “accounting, purchasing, AP, AR and all of that.”

Gesturing expansively, Rummel Mancuso warms to her next topic: the Physically Challenged Program. After attending several illuminating conferences, Rummel Mancuso says a phrase that she uses again and again, “I just saw the need.”

Rummel Mancuso works with one of the Metro State students in the Physically Challenged Program, Kevin Darcy.

Rummel Mancuso saw seated aerobics demonstrated by a local fitness resource here in Denver and—coincidentally—“Here we have a Metro Student who can teach it.” Another well-timed student offer came from Tim Ventura, an above-the-knee amputee, who wanted to do personal coaching. Ventura came up with the name the “Physically Challenged Program,” which went from one participant to 40 in the first year.

“I recognized there had to be people this would appeal to,” Rummel Mancuso said.

Rummel Mancuso launched the Physically Challenged Program and Disability Awareness Day but had to keep the money flowing into the fledgling projects. She decided to conduct a survey through the Disability Services Office.

“I had no money. I had a vision and I had a desire. So what I had to do was make it successful that first year,” said Rummel Mancuso.

The survey proved there was a need and the program took off. “The administration really supported it financially,” Rummel Mancuso said. “The Diversity Initiative Fund has been wonderful.” Spearheaded by Sallie McKee the diversity initiative is “the main source of funding.”

The program received more than financial support. “Everyone was awesome in implementing all of our suggestions. That’s how we got to this point of physical accessibility.”

The years brought much expansion and improvement to the Auraria Campus after that initial survey. “Our new fitness center is totally accessible,” Rummel Mancuso said. “New Mobility named us one of the top ten accessible campuses in the nation.”

The Disability Awareness Festival, now in its 13th year, spawned two more tri-institutional events: Art-Ability, a month-long art show that coincides with Disability Month, and TRYathlon, a wellness event to “create healthier habits.”

The art show, now in its third year, was successful from the start. The opening reception for the artists features a biography of “why they are the artists they are. How the disability created their ability. How they wouldn’t have done their masterpieces without it,” Rummel Mancuso explained.

And when you combine physical activity, stress management and nutrition you get a triathlon for everyone. “Who wouldn’t love to have a little healthy movement, relax and then eat?” smiles Rummel Mancuso explaining the TRYathlon.

The interview over, Rummel Mancuso is ready to move. At any minute she may be called upon to substitute for one of her group fitness teachers. Fitball, kick-boxing, weight training, indoor cycling, Pilates and aqua-cise—all are classes she can cover in a moment’s notice.

“I’m the number one sub,” she grins, “The only thing I don’t do is Hip-Hop.”

Though most mothers of twins would be removing items from their schedule, Rummel Mancuso is going to be “learning cardio-salsa this summer.” This is one woman even four-year-old boys could have a hard time keeping up with.