Department History
The Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) at the University of
Michigan School of Public Health (U-M SPH) has played an important part in the history
of the school and the field of health behavior and health education. Please read
on to learn more about the impact of our faculty and research, dating back to the
founding of the school in 1941.
Irwin “Rusty” Rosenstock
Mabel Rugen
Scott Simonds
Marshall Becker
Sherman James
Noreen Clark
Timeline
- 1941The U-M regents establish a School of Public Health, including a program in Health
Education within the Department of Public Health Practice. Mabel Rugen is among the
first SPH faculty assembled by Dean Henry Vaughan to teach in the area of health education,
which would eventually become the HBHE program.
- 1971HBHE professor Scott Simonds is appointed as a member of the President Nixon's Committee
on Health Education. The Committee's report in 1973 resulted in an infusion of funding
in to the field of HBHE.
- 1972HBHE professor Marshall Becker pioneers a study using the Health Belief Model to understand
how patients' beliefs affect their willingness to follow medical regimens and providing
practical guidelines for physicians to follow when transmitting medical information
to patients.
- 1975The Department of Health Behavior & Health Education is established. The Masters
program is extended from one to two years, and the PhD program is approved. At this time there are 48 students enrolled in the Department,
more than double the enrollment before this time.
- 1976HBHE professor Irwin "Rusty" Rosenstock leads a statewide work group on health education
whose recommendations inform the first state of Michigan Public Health Code.
- 1990The dual degree program is established between HBHE and the School of Social Work
(MPH/MSW) providing students with a skill-based education focused on the many intersections
of health and social work.
- 1992HBHE professor Arline Geronimus originates an analytical framework called "weathering" that posits that the health
of African Americans is subject to early health deterioration as a consequence of
social exclusion.
- 1994SPH consolidates into 5 Departments, resulting in the integration of many faculty
from Population Planning & International Health and Public Health Planning & Administration
into HBHE. This leads to growth in the enrollment and research in the Department.
- 1995HBHE professor and Chair Noreen M. Clark is selected as the Dean of SPH and serves
from 1995-2005.
- 1995HBHE professor Victor Strecher founds the Center for Health Communications Research, a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at creating and implementing more effective
health interventions. Future directors include HBHE professor Ken Resnicow.
- 1995HBHE professor Barbara Israel founds the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center, originally funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and Prevention through their Urban Research Centers Initiative.
- 1998HBHE professor Sherman James founds the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, which moved the field to focus on ethnicity and health disparities more profoundly.
Future directors include HBHE professors Harold "Woody" Neighbors and Cleopatra Howard Caldwell.
- 1998HBHE professor Marc Zimmerman founds the Prevention Research Center to promote safe and healthy futures through prevention research.
- 2000HBHE professor Noreen Clark is elected to the Institute of Medicine.
- 2005HBHE professors Barbara Israel, Amy Schulz & Edith Parker co-author the widely used "Methods in Community-Based Participatory Research for Health" textbook. This book shows how researchers, practitioners, and community partners
can work together to establish and maintain equitable partnerships using a Community-Based
Participatory Research (CBPR) approach.
- 2005HBHE professor Noreen Clark founds the Center for Managing Chronic Disease to broaden our understanding and widening the societal lens regarding the problem
of chronic disease. Future directors include HBHE professor John Piette.
- 2005HBHE professor Noreen Clark is named the Marshall H. Becker Collegiate Professor of
Public Health.
- 2006HBHE professor Noreen Clark is named the Myron E. Wegman Distinguished University
Professor of Public Health.
- 2006With the opening of the newly constructed SPH Crossroads and Tower complex, HBHE centers
and programs move to the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Henry Vaughan (SPH I) building.
- 2008The dual degree program is established between HBHE and the Genetic Counseling Program
(MPH/MS) providing students with an innovative learning experience that includes academic
training, research skill development, and clinical instruction addressing issues that
occur at the intersection of the two fields. HBHE professor Scott Roberts serves as the program Co-Director.
- 2009HBHE professor Neal Krause is named the Marshall Becker Collegiate Professor of Public
Health in recognition of his work on health gerontology and religious coping.
- 2009HBHE professor José Bauermeister founds the Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities
dedicated to the improvement of physical and mental health among oppressed and marginalized
populations, both globally and locally.
- 2010HBHE professor Marc Zimmerman founds the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, one of six National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention funded by
the CDC.
- 2012HBHE professor Ken Resnicow is named the Irwin Rosenstock Collegiate Professor of Public Health in recognition
of his work on health communications and motivational interviewing.
- 2012HBHE professors Rebecca Cunningham and Marc Zimmerman provide leadership in the founding
of the Injury Center, one of nine Injury Control Research Centers funded by the CDC.
- 2015HBHE professor Gary Harper served as the Director for Undergraduate Education as SPH launched its first undergraduate
program in public health.
- 2017HBHE professor Marc Zimmerman is named the Marshall H. Becker Collegiate Professor of Public Health in honor of
his work in the area of adolescent health and resiliency.
Interesting Facts & Figures
- Since 1975, over 1,407 students have graduated from the HBHE MPH program.
- Since 1975, over 102 student have graduated from the HBHE doctoral program.
- Since 2002, HBHE faculty and research centers have been awarded over $202 million
in research funding
Leadership Roles & Awards
Years |
Faculty member |
Role |
2017-present |
Cleo Caldwell |
Department Chair |
2015-present |
Gary Harper |
Director for Undergraduate Education |
2014-2016 |
Cathleen Connell |
Department Chair |
2012-present |
Vic Strecher |
Director, Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship |
2010-14 |
Nancy Janz |
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs |
2004-13 |
Marc Zimmerman |
Department Chair |
2005-10 |
Edith Parker |
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs |
1995-2005 |
Noreen Clark |
Dean |
2001-04 |
Cathleen Connell |
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs |
1999-2003 |
Sherman James |
Department Chair |
1995-99 |
Barbara Israel |
Department Chair |
1987-95 |
Noreen Clark |
Department Chair |
1987-93 |
Marshall Becker |
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs |
1983-87 |
Marshall Becker |
Department Chair |
1975-83 |
Irwin "Rusty" Rosenstock |
Department Chair |
Year |
Center Name |
Leaders |
1995 |
Center for Health Communications Research |
Vic Strecher; Ken Resnicow |
1995 |
Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center |
Barbara Israel |
1998 |
Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture & Health |
Sherman James; Woody Neighbors; Cleo Caldwell |
1998 |
Prevention Research Center |
Marc Zimmerman |
2005 |
Center for Managing Chronic Disease |
Noreen Clark; John Piette |
2009 |
Center for Sexuality & Health Disparities |
Jose Bauermeister |
2010 |
Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center |
Marc Zimmerman |
2012 |
Injury Center |
Jean Shope, Rebecca Cunningham, Marc Zimmerman |
Year |
Awardee |
Category |
Research |
2016 |
Amy Schulz |
Excellence in Research |
2013 |
Arline Geronimus |
Excellence in Research |
2009 |
Ken Resnicow |
Excellence in Research |
2005 |
Marc Zimmerman |
Excellence in Research |
1996 |
Neal Krause |
Excellence in Research |
Teaching |
2016 |
Elizabeth Mosley |
Outstanding GSI Award |
2015 |
Jose Bauermeister |
Excellence in Teaching |
2015 |
Emily Youatt |
Outstanding GSI Award |
2007 |
Barbara Israel |
Excellence in Teaching |
Service |
2015 |
Laura Jadwin-Cakmak |
Excellence in Diversity |
2015 |
Sharon Sand |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2014 |
Lara Thomas |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2014 |
Lynda Fuerstnau |
Excellence in Diversity |
2013 |
Amy Schulz |
Excellence in Diversity |
2011 |
Susan Franzen |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2010 |
Barbara Israel |
Excellence in Diversity |
2008 |
Everett Roberts |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2007 |
Woody Neighbors |
Excellence in Diversity |
2006 |
Shirley Hatto |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2006 |
Cleo Caldwell |
Excellence in Diversity |
2005 |
Susan Morrel-Samuels |
Excellence in Staff Service |
2003 |
Jackie Cormany |
Excellence in Staff Service |
Year |
Name |
Award |
2010 |
Victor Strecher |
The 4th University of Michigan Distinguished University Innovator, recognizing faculty
for the development of innovative technologies and the demonstration of their transformational
potential. |
2014 |
Cathleen Connell |
The Academic Women's Caucus selection committee presented the Rhetaugh G. Dumas Progress
in Diversifying Award to the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in
the School of Public Health. Dr. Connell accepted the award on behalf of the department. |
2014 |
Brian Zikmund-Fisher |
The Henry Russel Award, one of the highest honors the University bestows upon junior
faculty, is conferred to faculty members who have demonstrated an extraordinary record
of accomplishment in scholarly research and/or creativity, as well as an excellent
record of contributions as a teacher. |