Location Oceanport, New Jersey, United States Regions Greater New York Area, East Coast, Northeastern US Gender Female Also Known As Owner of FIT, FULL AND FOCUSED, Marissa E Haugh
Website marissahaugh.com/
From an early age, Marissa Haugh understood that learning and growth would guide her path in life. Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in New England, she developed a natural curiosity about the world around her and a deep concern for the well-being of children. These early experiences shaped the direction of her education and career, ultimately
leading her into roles where she could support young people in their development, health, and overall quality of life.
Marissa pursued higher education with determination, beginning at the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. This degree gave her insight into family dynamics and human development across the lifespan, a foundation that would serve her throughout her career. Her interest in combining creative and academic pursuits brought her to Parsons’ School of Design, where she earned a Certificate in Fine Arts and Foundation in 2001. Soon after, she advanced her academic journey by obtaining a Master of Science in Child Life from Bank Street College in 2003. With these credentials, she carried an analytical and creative outlook into her professional work.
Her early career showed her strong commitment to child development. While still in college, she took on responsibilities as a day care leader and later as a caseworker at Talbot Perkins Children’s Services in Brooklyn. There, she gained firsthand experience in adoption and foster care, understanding the challenges families and children often face. Soon after, she embraced a leadership role as a Lead Camp Counselor at Epiphany Nursery School Camp, where she designed art and cooking projects and managed daily classroom activities. These positions gave her a strong educational and recreational child care base.
1998 she became Head Teacher at Trevor Day School in New York City. She managed classrooms, assessed children’s learning needs, and supported their academic growth. This experience led her naturally into healthcare-related settings. After completing her graduate degree, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she provided therapeutic interventions to children dealing with serious illnesses such as cancer, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and HIV/AIDS. Her work focused on the medical side of care and emotional support for children and families during hospitalizations and crises.
Later, at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, she served as an Early Intervention Developmental Specialist. Her responsibilities included assessments and interventions for infants and toddlers up to three years old with developmental delays. Her role allowed her to work closely with families and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring children received the attention and care they needed during critical stages of growth.
In 2017, Marissa expanded her career by focusing on fitness and nutrition. She completed a Certificate in Fitness and Nutrition from the Academy of Sports Medicine and established her practice, FIT, FULL, AND FOCUSED, in Oceanport, New Jersey. As a self-employed coach and consultant, she now creates individualized meal and fitness plans that address her clients’ needs. She emphasizes education, guiding clients on how to make informed choices about food, exercise, and lifestyle. Her work helps people build sustainable, healthy routines rather than quick fixes.
Her own experiences in fitness further strengthen her coaching. She has been a dedicated distance runner and has tested her endurance in CrossFit, Tough Mudder, Spartan races, and numerous marathons. By bringing both personal experience and professional expertise together, she offers her clients realistic guidance rooted in practice.
Today, Marissa continues dedicating her time and skills to her family and clients. Whether through her early work with children or her present focus on health and nutrition, she remains committed to helping others live fuller, healthier, and more balanced lives. Her journey reflects resilience and adaptability, guided by her belief in the value of care, knowledge, and well-being.
