History

SOPHE is a dynamic nonprofit professional organization representing the discipline of health education and health promotion.

Initially founded in 1950 as the Society of Public Health Educators, and reported incorporation of SOPHE in New York on May 2, 1952.

SOPHE provides global leadership to the profession and promotes the health of society through:

  • Advances in health education theory and research
  • Excellence in professional preparation and practice
  • Advocacy for public policies conducive to health
  • Achievement of health equity for all

The SOPHE History Project highlights major events and accomplishments between 2000-2015.

SOPHE History 2000_2009

SOPHE History 1990-1999

SOPHE History 1980-1989

SOPHE History 1970-1979

SOPHE-History-1960-1969

SOPHE History 1950-1959

Past SOPHE Leadership

SOPHE Presidents

2023 Raffy R. Luquis, PhD, MCHES®

2022 Amy Thompson, PhD, CHES®

2021    Deborah Fortune, PhD, FAAHE

2020   Cam Escoffery, PhD, MPH, CHES®

2019    Jean M. Breny, PhD, MPH

2018    Angela Mickalide, PhD, MCHES®

2017    Adenike Bitto, MD, DrPH, MCHES®

2016    David A. Birch, PhD, MCHES®

2015    Sandra Bulmer, PhD

2014    Kelly Bishop, MA, MCHES®, FASHA

2013    Kelli McCormack Brown, PhD, CHES®

2012    Kelli McCormack Brown, PhD, CHES®**

2011    Robert S. Gold, DrPH, PhD, FASHA

2010    Daniel Perales, DrPH, MPH

2009    Diane Allensworth, PhD

2008    Kathryn Meier, MPH, CHES®

2007    Robert Simmons, DrPH, MPH, MCHES®, CPH

2006    Elizabeth Howze, ScD, CHES®

2005    Stephen Gambescia, PhD, MBA, MA, MCHES®

2004    Collins Airhihenbuwa, PhD

2003    David Ramsey, MPH, CHES®

2002    Sue Lachenmayr, MPH, CHES®

2001    Karen Denard Goldman, PhD, MCHES®*

2000    Fran Butterfoss, PhD

1999    Kathleen Roe, DrPH, MPH

1998    Robert Goodman, PhD, MPH, MA

1997    John P. Allegrante, PhD

1996    Randy Schwartz, MSPH

1995    Ellen M. Capwell, PhD, MCHES®

1994    William C. Livingood, Jr., PhD, CHES®

1993    James N. Burdine, DrPH

1992    Cynthia Jorgensen, DrPH

1991    Jim Perkins, DrPH

1990    Nell H. Gottlieb, PhD

1989    Paul R. Mico, MPH, CHES®*

1988    Clarence E. Pearson, MPH*

1987    Michael P. Eriksen, ScD

1986    Brian S. Flynn, ScD

1985    Noreen M. Clark, PhD*

1984    Ruth F. Richards, MPH*

1983    Lawrence W. Green, DrPH

1982    Edward J. Roccella, PhD, MPH*

1981    Richard A. Windsor, PhD, MPH, MS*

1980    Elizabeth McMahan, EdD

1979    Marcia Pinkett   Heller, MPH

1978    Sigrid Deeds, DrPH, CHES®*

1977    Helen S. Ross, EdD, CHES®*

1976    Joe Fred Sills, PhD*

1975   Helen P. Cleary, DSc, CHES®*

1974   Beverly Ware, DrPH, CHES®*

1973    Donald Campbell, PhD*

1972    Florence B. Fiori, DrPH*

1971    Carol D’Onofrio, DrPH

1970    Scott K. Simonds, DrPH

1969    William Darity, PhD *

1968    Theron Butterworth, PhD*

1967    Betty Bond, PhD*

1966    Ralph Boatman, PhD*

1965    Jerome Grossman, PhD*

1964    H. J. Weddle, MPH *

1963   Thomas Roberson, MPH*

1962    Jeannette J. Simmons, DrSc, MPH*

1961    Mary P. Armstrong, MPH*

1960    Charlotte Leach, MPH*

1959   Norbert Reinstein, MPH*

1958    Beryl J. Roberts, DrPH*

1957    Howard W. Ennes, Jr., MPH*

1956    Ann W. Haynes, MPH*

1955    William Griffth, PhD*

1954    Sol S. Lifson, MPH*

1953    Lucy S. Morgan, PhD*

1952    Levitte B. Mendel, MPH*

1951    Mayhew Derryberry, PhD*

1950    Clair E. Turner, DrPH*


*Deceased
***transition to officer timeline to coincide with change in annual conference


SOPHE’s African American Presidents


Read> John P. Allegrante, PhD, 1998 SOPHE Presidential Address, “SOPHE: At the Intersection of Education, Policy, and Science and Technology.


Advocacy


Read> Looking Back and Moving Forward: SOPHE’s 70 Years of Contributions to Health Education


Past SOPHE Awardees