Dr. Becky Smith, Former Executive Director of the

American Association for Health Education, Named Senior Advisor at HealthTeacher

NASHVILLE, TN – HealthTeacher announced today that Becky Smith, Ph.D., CHES, has been named as Senior Advisor to HealthTeacher. Smith retired in March, 2010 after serving 24 years as the Executive Director for the American Association for Health Education as well as many years promoting and teaching health in the classroom. 

“Becky has spent a lifetime dedicated to health education, and we are honored to have her join HealthTeacher,” said Scott McQuigg, CEO of HealthTeacher. "Becky’s experience, knowledge and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to work with teachers, schools and communities to improve the health of America’s youth.”

Smith will serve in an advisory capacity to HealthTeacher and act as liaison with educators and other health education organizations.

“I am very pleased to become affiliated with HealthTeacher as they provide leading edge online health education resources for teachers and students across the country,” said Becky Smith, Senior Advisor to HealthTeacher, and I am looking forward to contributing to their outreach and innovation.”

Smith’s previous experience includes twelve years of teaching within health education professional preparation at institutions of higher education and nine years of public school teaching. She has held appointments at Ohio University, Illinois State University, and Indiana State University. From 1991 through 2001, Smith served on the Board of Trustees of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), and as the regional director of the North American Regional Office (NARO) of IUHPE. She was a founding member and former vice chairperson of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. From 1992-94, she served as the chairperson of the National School Health Education Coalition. Smith served as the chairperson of the National Coordinating Committee on School Health and Safety, 2001-2003 and as chairperson of the Alliance for Curriculum Reform, 2005-2006.

Smith was a founding Board member of the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education and has renewed her Board membership in 2010. She is also a Commissioner, for the Accreditation Commission of the National Association for Health Education Centers.

Smith is a Fellow of the American School Health Association, a Charter Fellow of the American Association for Health Education and a Fellow of the North American Society of Leaders in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. She is a member of the health education honorary, Eta Sigma Gamma and has received their Distinguished Service Award. In addition, she has received a Professional Service Award and Presidential Citation from the American Association for Health Education.

Smith has directed a wide diversity of projects in health education and health promotion funded by government, corporation, and foundation sources. She served as the editor of the Journal of Health Education from 1986 through 1997, served as the executive editor of the American Journal of Health Education 1998-2010 and the International Electronic Journal of Health Education from 2001-2010. She has served on more than 20 national advisory committees, and is the author of numerous publications and papers presented at national and international meetings.