Principles of Health Education and Promotion

Principles of Health Education and Promotion provides readers with a solid foundation in the history, philosophy, theory, and ethics of health education. Considered the best overall introduction to the growing field of health education and promotion, the text connects fundamental topics to research, resources, and practitioners. It covers the roles and responsibilities of health education specialists, potential occupational settings, and the ethics that inform professional decisions. Looking at the past, present, and future of health, health care, and health education and promotion, the book features discussions of recent health reforms, the evolving professional landscape, the use of social media in health promotion, and much more.

Dr. Cottrell is a Retired Professor and Program Coordinator in the Public Health program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is also Professor Emeritus in the Health Promotion and Education Program at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Cottrell received his doctorate in Health Education from Penn State University. He has published 90+ articles and co-authored textbooks on stress management, weight control, health education foundations, and research methods. He served a two-year term as President of the American Association for Health education and also served on the boards of the Society for Public Health Education and the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education. Randy was named a Fulbright Scholar in 2011 and spent six months teaching and conducting research at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. He also served as a visiting professor in the American Studies Program at the University of Swansea in Swansea, Wales. '

Denise Seabert is a public health educator and higher education administrator who has dedicated her career to improving the health of students and the community through her teaching, scholarship, service, and leadership roles.' She earned her PhD from the University of Florida, a MS from Indiana University, and a BAEd from Western Washington University. She has served on the NCHEC Division Board, American School Health Association Board of Directors, and Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Education Honorary Executive Board. Denise is co-author of three textbooks: An Introduction to Community and Public Health (11th ed., Jones & Bartlett Learning), Principles and Foundations of Health Promotion and Education (8th ed., 2023, Jones & Bartlett Learning), and Health Education: Elementary and Middle School Applications (11th ed., 2025, McGraw Hill).

Dr. Caile Spear joined Boise State University in 1996 in the Department of Kinesiology, in 2016 transitioned to the Department of Community and Environmental Health, and retired in 2021. She advised the Public Health and Health Education and Promotion majors. Dr. Spear served as an American Association for Health Education (AAHE) Fellow, Board Member, and President as well as a Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Board of Directors member. Dr. Spear served on the Division Board for Certification of Health Education Specialists, part of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). She was a faculty-in-residence for the Health Professions Living and Learning Community 2007-2009 and 2016-2018.Research interests included: Using collective impact to meet the basic needs of college students; Implementation and evaluation of Healthy Habits; Healthy U: A school-based cancer education program and Service-Learning.

Jim McKenzie is a Professor Emeritus at Ball State University. He earned his BS and MEd from Bowling Green State University, a PhD from The Ohio State University, and an MPH from the University of Michigan. During his professional career he also served on the faculties at Bowling Green State University, Mankato State University (now, Minnesota State University, Mankato) and Penn State University–Hershey. He is a retired master certified health education specialist (RMCHES®). While he was an active MCHES® he served on NCHEC's Division Board for Certification of Health Education Specialists for 11 years. He is co-author of five textbooks: Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs (9th ed., 2028), Introduction to Public & Community Health (11th ed., 2026), An Introduction to Community Health–Brief Edition (2014), Principles and Foundations of Health Promotion and Education (8th ed., 2023), and Research Methods in Health Promotion and Education (2nd ed., 2011). He is a Distinguished Fellow of Society of Public Health Education, and a Fellow of American Association for Health Education and Eta Sigma Gamma.