Dr. Mark Wilson, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of health promotion and behavior at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, was recently named UGA Foundation Professor of Public Health. The endowed professorship was approved by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents at their meeting on January 14 and became effective April 1.
“With this appointment, Dr. Wilson becomes the College of Public Health’s sixth endowed professor,” said Dr. Phillip Williams, dean of the College. “In addition to being a very productive researcher, he has been a major contributor to the development of the College of Public Health. This award recognizes his many accomplishments and successes in the field of health promotion and behavior.”
Dr. Wilson is the director of the Workplace Health Group (WHG), a multi-disciplinary research team that conducts research on workplace health and safety interventions and organizational effectiveness. Through his work at the WHG, Wilson has consulted with many organizations and companies on projects ranging from the evaluation of a cholesterol reduction program to development and evaluation of a healthy work organization intervention.
Dr. Wilson has served on a variety of advisory panels and editorial boards at the national level including Associate Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Health Promotion. He has authored more than 50 peer reviewed research papers and has received funding from state and federal agencies including Georgia Department of Human Resources, the National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
His current federally funded projects include a physical activity intervention for improved cardiovascular health and a diabetes prevention program for city and county government works. Most recently, he and the WHG received a 5-year, $3.2 million grant from the NIH to translate Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) for use in the workplace.
Dr. Wilson holds a master’s degree in health and safety education from Indiana State University and a Doctor of Health and Safety degree from Indiana University.
The University of Georgia Foundation funds more than 150 chairs and professorships across a wide variety of departments and disciplines at the university. Funding for these chairs and professorships is made possible through the generosity of donors, who establish funds with the foundation to support these important positions.
Posted April 18, 2014 .
