Wellness Ambassador: Matt Shimel

I am a software developer in UITS supporting UAccess Employee. My enthusiasm for workplace well-being began long before I officially became a Wellness Ambassador (probably because I needed those wellness tips as much as anyone else). In 2016, I hit my heaviest weight but managed to turn things around through regular exercise (including walking my dog and playing Pokemon Go) and changing my diet, ultimately losing 45 pounds. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I led weekly resistance band classes and campus lunch walks, partly to encourage my coworkers to stay active and partly because I needed accountability.

Since becoming a Wellness Ambassador a few years ago, I helped implement a program called "Wellness Wednesdays" where we spend one Wednesday lunch hour each month either hosting Life & Work Connections webinars or discussing wellness topics like burnout, mindfulness, and self-care. I’m far from an expert, but I’m always eager to learn and share. Each year, I also serve as a team captain for Move Arizona, showing that even techies can be active. Life & Work Connections offers so many resources to University of Arizona employees, and I’ve made it my mission to tell anyone willing to listen.

Team Quotes

“Participating in the exercise band session was such a fun and energizing experience! It showed me simple ways to stay active during the day. Thanks to Matt Shimel’s collaboration with Life & Work Connections, the session was brought right to our department, making it so easy to attend.”

--Catherine Zavala

“Matt was a great inspiration for joining Move Arizona this last year. His advocacy for using simple approaches to getting in steps by moving around and making it fun prompted many people to join the program.”

--Audrey Ashcraft