Karin Opacich is the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Public Health UIC. She facilitated the development of the UIC baccalaureate program in public health that resulted in a philosophically grounded, intentionally integrated program that serves six themes: Health as a Moral Endeavor, Health Equity, Life Course Perspective, OneHealth, Cultural Relevance, and Local/Global Impact. Predicated upon principles of liberal education, confluent education, action learning, and community engaged participatory learning, the public health program launched in 2012 has achieved a 95 percent graduation rate at an institution that ranks among the most highly diverse in the country.
One of her nominator’s states, “Dr. Opacich tirelessly takes on the challenges of undergraduate public health education to establish authentic educational practice and position our program for sustained and quality growth.”
Another colleague writes, “Dr. Opacich demonstrates her leadership as a public health educator by welcoming and encouraging active learning and engagement with attention to both the practice of education and the practice of public health.”
Nominations should include a description of the nominee’s outstanding contributions in:
Nominees must be full-time faculty with a primary appointment at a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health (view eligible schools and programs and eligible standalone baccalaureate programs), or an ASPPH Undergraduate Network for Education in Public Health member program (view Member Directory).
All nominations must contain the following materials:
The nomination period for the 2020 cycle has closed.
