Accreditation Commissioners
David A. Birch | Kathleen Burke | Sherry Eagle | Nancyann Falvo
Julian Peebles | Becky J. Smith | Rebecca Zakowski
David A. Birch, PhD, CHES, Professor of Health Education and Chair of the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)
Before coming to SIUC, he was a faculty member in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University and a faculty member in the Department of Health Education at Penn State University. While at Penn State, he served as director of Health Education Outreach Programs. Dr. Birch has held numerous national leadership positions in health education. He is a past-president of the American Association for Health Education, and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Health Education, the American School Health Association, and the National Association of Health Education Centers. From 2004-06, Dr. Birch served as co-chair of the National Transition Task Force on Accreditation in Health Education. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Society for Public Health Education, the Associate Board of Editors of the American Journal of Health Education, and the editorial boards of the American Journal of Health Behavior and the American Journal of Health Studies. Dr. Birch is a Charter Fellow of the American Association of Health Education and a Fellow of the American School Health Association. In 1996 he was awarded the American School Health Association’s Distinguished Service Award. While at Indiana University, Dr. Birch received the Trustee’s Teaching Award and the Teaching Excellence Recognition Award. Dr. Birch is the author of numerous professional articles and several books including Step by Step to Involving Parents in Health Education. His research interests include parent and family involvement in coordinated school health programs, comprehensive school health education, professional preparation in health education, and administrative and professional leadership. He worked at the state level for the Maine Department of Education and has ten years of public school teaching experience in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Kathleen Burke , Chief Executive Officer, Robert Crown Center for Health Education, Hinsdale, IL
Kathleen Burke joined the RCCHE in July 2005, and brought with her an extensive record of accomplishment. Burke built her aptitude for leadership, strategic thinking, program creativity, and partnership development over twenty years in both the health and education fields. Previously, she held senior management positions at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry; the largest science museum in the country. She managed the development of new programs, educational exhibits, community partnerships and fundraising. Burke is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Sherry Eagle , Executive Director, University of Aurora, Institute for Collaboration, Aurora, IL
Sherry Eagle has directed the Institute for Collaboration at Aurora University since 2005. Prior to that she served at Superintendent of Schools for Aurora West School District for 12 years, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assistant Principal, a reading specialist and a third grade teacher. Ms. Eagle has conducted workshops and lectures for multiple local and national organizations and has had many articles published in peer reviewed journals. She has designed and implemented PreK-12 programs in reading, mathematics, sciences, social studies, fine arts, physical education, foreign language, health occupations and technology and created high school and middle school alternative education schools in partnership with the City of Aurora, East Aurora School District, Indian Prairie School District and the Quad County Urban League that virtually eliminated the need for expulsion of students. She changed the District bond rating from Baa to A+, which resulted in a savings of several hundred thousand dollars for taxpayers while managing the school district budget that tripled in revenues. While in the Superintendent’s position, she designed and constructed two new elementary schools, two new middle schools, five new additions, renovations of all district buildings and acquired land and equipment totaling over $150 million. She also developed and implemented the Read With Me Foundation to promote a community reading campaign.
Nancyann Falvo , PhD, Executive Director, Clarion University Health Science Education Center, Clarion, PA
Nancy is an assistant professor of nursing at Clarion University and has served as the Director of Clarion University’s Health Science Education Center (HSEC) since 2002. Dr. Falvo oversees all programming, budgeting, grant reporting, and personnel issues at the HSEC. Nancy also serves as the project director for the three state-wide youth anti-tobacco programs and has secured funds to create the PA Youth Advocacy Network – an on-line teacher resource designed to assist teachers in integrating healthy decision making and health promotion topics into the mandated curriculum. In her role as faculty, Dr. Falvo has participated in several NLN accreditation reports for both the undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing.
Julian Peebles , President, Ruth Lilly health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Julian has a long history of working on behalf of the well-being of Indiana youth. He served as President of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis for ten years, is currently the President elect of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, and has received numerous awards for his work with youth, including the Dick Lugar Health and Fitness Award. In addition, he is the recipient of the Saint John Bosco Medal, the Catholic Youth Organization’s highest award for his service to youth fitness and recreation, and has been recognized by his Alma maters Cathedral High School and Butler University for his work in the community. Mr. Peebles has served and continues to serve on numerous civic and professional boards in the local community. He served on the Board of the Independent Schools of the Central States (162 private Midwest schools) and was Chair of numerous accreditation teams working with schools across the Midwest.
Becky J. Smith , PhD, CHES, Executive Director, American Association for Health Education and Vice President, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Previous professional experiences include health education professional preparation at institutions of higher education and public school teaching, K-12. She has held faculty appointments at Ohio University, Illinois State University and Indiana State University. She holds the following certifications: 1) Certified Association Executive (CAE), 2) Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and 3) certified teacher, K-12 in New York and Illinois. Her doctoral studies were completed at the University of Illinois with a major in Health and Safety Studies and minors in Labor and Industrial Relations and History and Philosophy of Education.
Dr. Smith has directed a wide diversity of projects in health education and health promotion funded by government, corporation, and foundation sources. She served as the Editor of the Journal of Health Education and currently serves as the Executive Editor of the American Journal of Health Education and the International Electronic Journal of Health Education. She has served on more than 20 national advisory committees and many major national health education organization boards, has participated in and led credentialing and accreditation groups within the field, and is the author of numerous publications and papers presented at national and international meetings.
