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Health education implies a belief in the right of all people to be as healthy and safe as science plus human endeavor can make them. – Lucy S. Morgan, Founding Chair
1940s
The First Department of Public Health Education is in U.S. established at the University of North Carolina in 1942.
As part of the Department’s field program, established by founding Chair Lucy S. Morgan, students work with communities across the U.S. to close racial gaps in health outcomes, eradicate tuberculosis, and reduce unplanned pregnancies.
The Faculty helps develop and teach the first public health courses at North Carolina College for Negroes in nearby Durham (now called North Carolina Central University), beginning a collaborative relationship that continues to this day.
1950s
Department expands, producing almost half of U.S. public health educators. In the Jim Crow south where segregation bars black students from enrolling at the University of North Carolina, the Department starts working with North Carolina College for Negroes in nearby Durham to establish a joint program in public health education.
Public health was upsetting the hell out of everything. . . You weren’t supposed to do things like that. It was frowned upon. But in public health we’ve always believed in training people to get out there and do things, and you don’t do that by being very conservative. – John Larsh, SPH faculty member, 1942-1981
1960s
Founding faculty retire, passing the torch on to new generation of scholar-activists.
The Department graduates its first black PhD from the University, William Darity. He goes on to become professor and dean of School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a member of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.
The Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) is founded in 1967 by students in Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy. Health Education students and faculty play a pivotal role in its establishment. SHAC is now the oldest student-run, free health clinic in the U.S.
1970s
The Department cultivates a focus on behavioral theory and research and hires the originator of the Health Belief Model, Godfrey Hochbaum, together with Department’s first researchers, Jo Anne Earp, Allan Steckler, and Brenda DeVellis.
Health Education students play a leading role in launching the School’s Minority Student Caucus and organizing the first Minority Health Conference. Held annually since 1977 (minus a 2 year hiatus in 1989 and 1990), the Minority Health Conference now attracts over 400 attendees.
The Department boosts minority presence on the faculty, including John Hatch, well known for developing culturally-sensitive health education interventions. Many graduates begin working in developing countries, particularly Africa.
Much of Africa’s capacity today in health education is derivative of Africans trained in Chapel Hill or exports from this UNC program. – Lawrence Green, CDC
1980s
The Doctoral program expands while the Department's research portfolio increases significantly.
Department changes its name from Health Education to Health Behavior and Health Education to reflect our growing emphasis on faculty research and preparation of doctorally trained researchers.
Faculty member Carol Runyan helps found, and then leads, the Injury Prevention Research Center, one of five original injury prevention research centers supported by CDC (1987) and now one of ten free-standing research centers on campus.
1990s
Faculty size doubles as research funding nearly triples. The Department increases its research strengths in HIV/AIDS prevention, health disparities, cancer prevention and control, injury prevention, women’s health, adolescent health.
Major gifts expand student funding through endowed scholarships (Lucy S. Morgan Award, Godfrey Hochbaum Award, James Briley Award, Katherine Kerr Award, Barnhill-Hatch Award, and Ethel Jean Jackson Award).
2000s
The Dual degree program in City and Regional Planning/Health Behavior and Health Education is established (MPH/MRP).
Department master’s student Kim Chapman is named one of Time Magazine’s “Heroes of Global Health” (one of 10 throughout the world) for her role in leading a youth development program in Kenya.
Department Chairs
| 1942 - 1966 |
Lucy S. Morgan, PhD, Harvard University. A well known community organizer, who was recruited to UNC from the Public Health Service, she founded the first department of health education in U.S.
| | 1966 - 1968 |
Ralph Boatman, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Long-time Department faculty member.
| | 1968 - 1985 |
Guy Steuart, PhD, an anti-apartheid émigré from South Africa, was a clinical psychologist who was recruited to UNC from UCLA’s School of Public Health. He joined several other South African faculty in the School.
| | 1985 - 1996 |
James R. Sorenson, PhD, Princeton, was a sociologist who chaired Boston University’s Department of Behavioral Sciences before coming to UNC.
| | 1996 - 2005 |
Jo Anne L. Earp, ScD, Johns Hopkins University, is a Medical sociologist specializing in health disparities research. She has been a Department member since 1974. She is known at UNC for advising generations of students and junior faculty.
| | 2005 - Present |
Edwin B. Fisher, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a Clinical psychologist specializing in health behavior and health psychology. Came to UNC from Washington University School of Medicine.
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Academics 