Today I’m posting an interview I had with Dr. Pat Cleveland, Associate Dean of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.  I was fortunate enough to get to know Dean Cleveland as I attended the Smith School as an undergraduate, and while I have a lot of memories of working with Dean Cleveland, the biggest one that stands out is her high energy level or ‘Pep” as Dean Cleveland calls it.  It didn’t matter if I passed by Dean Cleveland in the hallway before a morning class, went to a luncheon that Dean Cleveland was hosting, or attended a networking dinner at night. Dean Cleveland was always the life of the party, talked to everyone, and kept up a high energy level throughout her entire day.

So today’s interview focuses on how Dean Cleveland is able to keep up her energy level, because just as she says in the interview, “believe it or not, if I don’t eat healthy and exercise I’ll run out of energy.”

Here are a few takeaways from the interview:

• Terribly important to stay healthy while being this busy
  • 89 events were held by the Smith School last year, and most included (unhealthy) foods
  • If Dean Cleveland doesn’t eat right and exercise, she gets stressed and tired
• In order to get to the gym Dean Cleveland Switched gyms so that her gym was close to home
  • Fits in swimming a minimum of two days per week – Typically Fridays and Sundays
  • 15 minutes of Calisthenics (5BX) EVERY morning to get the blood pumping
• Nutrition is hardest part and most important
  • Dean Cleveland’s husband cooks healthy lunches (to help Dean Cleveland stay away from cafeteria food or eating out)
  • Dinners – Always skips the desert (No lava cake …)
  • Break’s the old rule, “clean up your plate,” and instead stops eating when Dean Cleveland feels full
  • Receptions – Hardest as it’s appetizers, so almost impossible to get all the nutrients needed for a proper meal so Dean Cleveland will eat a few appetizers and then go home and eat a salad
• Dean Cleveland’s Secret for holiday season – If you want to know this, watch the video to find out!

I hope you enjoy today’s interview!  Thanks again to Dean Cleveland for sharing her strategies on being both successful and healthy.

Do you know anyone that efficiently pursues a healthy lifestyle while living a busy and demanding life?  Send us an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and we’ll share their strategies with the EvoTrain community!