![SOPHE 70th anniversary logo](https://dev.sophe.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/70th-anniversary-logo.jpg)
History
SOPHE is a growing, dynamic nonprofit professional organization representing the discipline of health education and health promotion.
Founded in 1950, 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.
Past SOPHE Leadership
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
![](https://dev.sophe.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Advocacy-Poster-1024x571.png)
Read> Looking Back and Moving Forward: SOPHE’s 70 Years of Contributions to Health Education