Introduction and information about me

I am running for the Second Vice President of the National Environmental Health Association's Board of Directors. I am currently the Regional Vice President for Region 7, which includes the states of Georgia (my home state), Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, and a member of NEHA's Board of Directors.

Why I am running:

I am committed to improving environmental health. I will do my best to listen and to represent your concerns about our profession and the field of environmental health. I understand the challenges of environmental health practice, and I am open to learning more about the concerns of environmental health and its practitioners at all levels. I believe that we need more professionals committed to improving both the profession and the environment. My goal is to expand the reach and influence of the profession of environmental health over the factors that influence health and environmental quality.  My vision is for a stronger role for environmental health in improving and leading public health. I want to include increase the number of professionals who are actively engaged in this effort.  I have the experience and abilities to help move us toward sustained improvement.

Information about me:

Professional:
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Sanitarian
Member, NEHA, more than 30 years
Member, Georgia Environmental Health Association
Member, Uniformed Services Environmental Health Association
NEHA Technical Section Chairperson, 1986-2004, General Environmental Health, Injury Prevention/Occupational Health, and Toxic Substances/Hazardous Waste sections
NEHA Board of Directors- Region X Vice President 2005- 2011, and Region 7 Vice President 2011-2014, member, Finance, Food Safety, and Sustainability committees.
Current employment: 2006- present, faculty member, School of Public Health of Georgia State University; teaching, conducting and managing research, and providing service to the community.
Prior employment: U.S.P.H.S. Commissioned Officer. For 20 years, I was assigned to a variety of environmental and public health responsibilities at CDC and ATSDR. I also worked for the Indian Health Service and held environmental health positions at the local and area levels for 10 years, in Arizona and California.

Education: B.S. in Environmental Health Science, Indiana State University; M.P.H. in Environmental Health, University of Michigan.

I have received the NEHA Past Presidents’ Award, numerous NEHA recognitions and USPHS awards.

Personal:
Atlanta, Georgia resident for over 25 years
Retired Captain, U.S.P.H.S.
Married, with one son
Engaged in a variety of activities in the community
Leisure: outdoors activities, gardening, flying a light airplane, reading, and family activities

Contact: steward.ja@gmail.com