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had to work without a VP for one year. Hence, I am one of TAMU with engineering and Public Health degrees. I
the few 3-year Presidents for the organization. The continue to mentor students at WVU and received the
resignation also left a void for the 2-year that the outgoing Mentoring Award in 2016.
Past-President serves; I requested the then outgoing Past
President, Dr. Marianne Frauenknecht, to stay on two extra What challenges do you think ESG as an organization
years; I was very pleased when she accepted, a 8-year will face in the next decade?
commitment to the organization!
For the leadership to be sensitive to cultural and
2) Provided leadership for the ESG Strategic Plan. I educational diversity
led the development of objectives and goals that are
pertinent for the next decade and activities and timeline What challenges do you think Gammans as health
that would help achieve the objectives and goals. This was education professionals will be dealing with in the next
nd
the 2 Strategic Plan for our organization and none done decade?
for more than a decade earlier. Hence, working with the To be proactive in acknowledging diversity of thoughts
Executive Committee, Board Members, and our members and ideas, especially in a politically divisive climate and
was a timely plan in 2009. to understand the perspectives of educators/individuals
from different backgrounds so that they can function in a
3) Fiscal changes to the budget, which saved in the
upward of 30% in expenses per year. When I reviewed the multicultural, multiethnic environment. This will allow
budget, I realized that the mailing and printing cost of the Gammans to succeed in their roles most effectively while
ESG journal to members were ~ 30% of the budget per they help individuals and communities to address health
year. Since the market was down and our investments promotion and disease prevention programs and
were not accruing funds we had earlier, I proposed and the approaches.
board members approved that we offer electronic copies to What five words best describe you?
save $$.
Passionate, Ethical, Inspire my protégées, Community-
4) Improved diversity within the organization oriented, and Successful
leadership. Based on feedback on our Strategic Plan
survey, I made extra efforts to reach out to colleagues who Any other comments/statements you wish to include?
were active in ESG and brought diversity to our
leadership/board members. I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to me!
Which one thing do you wish you had done differently?

To stand up for some unprofessional behavior among the
leadership during my tenure as Past President. The
leadership and board members are voluntary service
provided by Gammans; hence, acknowledgement of their
contributions when someone steps down or completes their
term is fitting.

Whom were you most influenced by professionally?
How/Why?
By my mentor, the late Dr. Steve Hohman. He was very
student oriented and always went the extra mile to provide
opportunities for his students to collaborate on research,
education and service projects. Hence, I try to mimic his
philosophy, and I have mentored hundreds of students at
the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels.
Mentoring undergraduate students is not only where I had
the greatest impact in ESG, but also the most fulfilling
personal experience. The two high school students I had
mentored for a project on metabolic syndrome received the
APHA Student award. Both students graduated from

26 THE HEALTH EDUCATION MONOGRAPH SERIES, Volume 34, Number 1, 2017