Fiona (Kelly) Tanous | 2023 Recreation Alumni Award Recipient

By Liz Henry ‘08,
Assoc. Director of Recreation Engagement
and Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

From the pool to the beach to the fitness studio — and back again — Fiona (Kelly) Tanous truly left her mark at UC San Diego. 

After starting as a lifeguard with Recreation in the late 80s, she quickly moved up the ranks to Head Lifeguard, and ultimately became the Associate Aquatics Director and Head Instructor for Swim (and surf) Lessons. 

“Fiona was a key employee for the development of not only UC San Diego’s Aquatic program, but also our award-winning surf and swim instruction program,” says Jason Dillon, UC San Diego Director of Aquatics. “She's left a long-lasting legacy, and we are proud to honor that.” 

For several years, she was also responsible for Safety Certifications for many campus-wide departments. Fiona also somehow found time to be a FitLife instructor for various fitness classes here at UC San Diego. She might have even been “the guinea pig, or seed idea for the UC San Diego Recreation’s Fitness Instructor program. 

“Alexia Cervantes taught me how to teach group fitness, and specifically step class, which I did for a really long time,” Fiona says. “I miss teaching step; it was super fun. Another one of my favorite things was starting the Kids Surf Camp. I'm not sure it exists still, but it was so fun when we did it.”  

After graduating from UC San Diego, she earned her MBA and went back to her Recreation roots, teaching fitness. And even though she and her family relocated, there were several times that she made her way back to La Jolla to visit and — in many cases — consult with current UC San Diego Recreation staff members on projects. 

What is Fiona up to now? She shares, after 14 years in medical sales, she is currently “on hiatus from working, volunteering with their local schools, taking care of family, and skiing as much as possible.” 

Looking back, Fiona says her time with Recreation played an essential role in preparing her for the rest of her career.

“There are many soft and hard skills you can learn at a recreation job that can carry over to other careers,” she says. “Lots of folks come out of school not having these skills. Employers look at your knowledge base, but also at how you will work with or manage other people.

“UC San Diego Recreation provides opportunities to build a lifetime habit of fitness/wellness, relationships outside of work or school, have a stress outlet, connect with your community, do something fun, and go outside.”

Fiona’s name still resonates as one of the hardest-working students during her time at UC San Diego. She wore a lot of hats, and she wore them well. Fiona has positively impacted many people’s lives, from Recreation participants and staff members to other departments on campus.

 “I would like to thank the Academy, Bill Morgan, Denny Harper, Judy White, Laurel Dean, Alexia Cervantes, and all of my former employees,” she says.

"REC people are my people.”