The 2021 edition of the SEHHB Insider is here! We hope you enjoy reading about the work of our students and faculty over the past year, along with how you can support our current fundraising priorities.

Read the 2021 SEHHB Insider.

SEHHB has launched an accelerated combined degree in exercise science (BS) and exercise physiology (MS), allowing students to complete up to nine credit hours of approved graduate courses during their undergraduate senior year.

"The accelerated combined degree program allows students to complete a bachelor’s in exercise science and a master’s in exercise physiology in a total of five academic years,” said Brianne Guilford, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health. “While moving seamlessly from the undergraduate program to graduate studies, students receive the benefits of both curriculums to jump-start their career.”

Learn more about the accelerated combined degree program.

Alumnus Zach Wygal is a teacher on a mission to help end the all too common issue of lunch shaming. Wygal, who earned a bachelor’s of special education in 2012 and a master’s in diversity and equity in education in 2019 from SEHHB, was introduced to lunch shaming while taking a class during his master's program detailing poverty in schools.

"Lunch shaming takes place when students are provided an alternative meal, branded with stickers or stamps, or have lunch withheld in an effort to get their parents to pay a debt,” explained Wygal, an eighth-grade teacher at Hillsboro Junior High School. To help combat this issue nationwide, Wygal has created endlunchshaming.com, an initiative that details the reality of lunch shaming while calling for change.

Learn more about Wygal's initiative.

In conjunction with National Health Education Week held in October, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), named public health undergraduates Bridget Patrick (left), of Edwardsville, and Samantha Moxley, of Huntley, as Collegiate Champions. The pair will serve as liaisons between SOPHE and SIUE while promoting public health awareness and education throughout campus.

"Our public health program emphasizes pre-professional education and experience,” said Nicole Klein, PhD, professor in the Department of Applied Health. "From the beginning, Samantha and Bridget clearly understood the benefits of students being involved in SOPHE through peer-reviewed journals, free webinars, job postings, networking and coordinated health policy efforts. We are quite excited to have them selected as SIUE’s first Collegiate Champions."

Learn more about the program.

The World Health Organization’s endorsement of the use of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in children is groundbreaking in the fight against the deadly disease, even in spite of its modest effectiveness rate. That’s why the vaccine will be part of a broader arsenal of malaria prevention tools including one Ellen Santos, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health, is working to improve.

Santos is partnering with Fredros Okumu, PhD, and the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania to assess the potential for manufacturing sturdier Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), commonly known as mosquito nets, locally within the country. Their team will survey communities about the current LLIN design and desired improvements, while also working to determine Tanzanians’ willingness to purchase nets that are sturdier, more sustainable and locally produced.

Learn more about the project.

SEHHB is hosting its annual Angel Tree fundraising campaign to provide food, clothing and other items for SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students this holiday season.

"The annual CHS Angel Tree campaign helps to meet some of the basic needs of our students, so they can come to school ready and willing to learn,” said Anne DeToye, CHS treasurer. “Our students are bright, talented and hardworking, but they have greater needs than their peers in surrounding communities. My hope is that the Angel Tree campaign lessens the burden and worries on our students and families, if only a little bit."

Learn more about the campaign and make your donation.

Save the Date: Behind The Scenes: A Life of Public Service with Congressman John Shimkus, ’97

Giving Tuesday
November 30, 2021

Expand your knowledge with the FREE SIUE Alumni Learning Consortium

Check out these upcoming FREE webinars in the SIUE Alumni Learning Consortium. Visit alumlc.org/siue for more details.

November 17 at 11 a.m. CST; Crypto 101: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Geniuses and Scoundrels
November 22 at 3 p.m. CST; The Thanksgiving Dilemma: Reevaluating Our Annual Celebration
December 1 at 11 a.m. CST; Research Like a Pro: Discovering Your Family's History in 30 Minutes a Day
December 9 at 6 p.m. CST; Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
December 15 at 11 a.m. CST; Beating Burnout at Work: The Secret to Well-Being and Resilience

SIUE Alumni Perks

The new SIUE Alumni Perks program can save you up to 50% off of top brands, retailers, restaurants, entertainment and recreation–in your area and nationally. Simply search by zip code or by type of discount online or on the mobile app and start saving immediately. Visit siuealumni.enjoymydeals.com, use promo code SIUEPERKS to download the mobile app and start saving today!

Join Online and Education Outreach as we explore new opportunities both personally and professionally this fall! We are bringing back some old favorites on the personal enrichment side, such as our Artisan Breads series, Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making courses, and our language courses, while also breaking into some new realms with Photography, Gardening and new Holiday Brunch and Cookies courses. On the professional side, we are bringing back our Immigrants in our Midst Conference and our Data Analytics series, while also breaking through the world of leadership with our new Four Fits of Dynamic Leadership course. Lifelong learning and Educard will also be returning to in-person formats this fall! 

Please visit siue.edu/educational-outreach to peruse and register for all of our personal, professional, lifelong learning, Educard and various other offerings the Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach is presenting!