AEHAP Leadership
The Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) was formed in 1999 to promote environmental health science education through the degree programs accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).
Since 1999 AEHAP volunteer board members have partnered with EHAC to recruit and support students earning their degrees from the network EHAC accredited Environmental Health science degree programs at universities across the nation. AEHAP and EHAC are two organizations with One Mission: Students discovery and achievement of an Environmental Health science degree from an accredited program. Environmental Health degrees open the door to a world of opportunities, fulfilling work and colleague friendships that last a lifetime.
Board of Directors
Dr. Michele Morrone, RE/REHS, of Ohio University
President (One-year term July 2023 to July 2024)
Dr. Michele Morrone, RE/REHS, is a professor and coordinator of the Environmental Health Science program at Ohio University and the Chair of the Department of Social and Public Health. She earned a Ph.D. in environmental planning from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in forest resources from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S. in natural resources from The Ohio State University. She has published 6 books: Ailing in Place: Environmental Inequities and Health Disparities in Appalachia; From Surviving to Thriving in Appalachia: Place, Passion, and Possibilities; Food Safety: A Reference Handbook, 3rd Edition; Mountains of Injustice: Social and Environmental Equity in Appalachia; Poisons on Our Plates: The Real Food Safety Problem in the U.S.; and Sound Science, Junk Policy: The Role of Environmental Health Scientists in Decision Making. She is also the author of numerous papers and book chapters on environmental health topics including the community impacts of hydraulic fracturing, environmental health disparities in Appalachia, access to health care in rural areas, and environmental justice.
Dr. Kim Lichtveld of University of Findlay (OH)
Past President (One-year term July 2023 to July 2024)
Kim Lichtveld is the Chair and Associate Professor in the Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Department teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the graduate program she teaches two core courses: Epidemiology and Research Methods. Her primary teaching areas at the undergraduate level are Microbiology and Public Health, Water Wastewater and Solid Waste, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She also works with the first years through freshman seminar in ESOH and the first year Environment and Society Lab course. Beyond her teaching duties she is the faculty advisor for The Oiler Environmental, Safety and Health Student Organization, and Oilers Changing Campus Culture.
Kim Lichtveld’s research efforts focus on two different areas. The first is the study of the interrelationships between chemical stressors, non-chemical stressors, and health outcomes for children is an emerging field of interest in the exposure science community. To identify the data gaps and research needs into the future of the field, review articles of particular topics are essential. The second focus of research involves investigating the ways in which gas-phase chemistry impacts toxicity and mechanisms of action for exposures to both individual chemicals and mixtures of chemicals in the air. This work uses an outdoor environmental chamber to photochemically drive reactions as they would in the real world.
Vonia Grabeel of Eastern Kentucky University
Treasurer (Two-Year term July 2022 to July 2024)
Vonia Grabeel, RS, MPH is an Assistant Professor and the Undergraduate Program Director in the College of Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Science at Eastern Kentucky University. After achieving her BS in Biology, with Chemistry minor then Environmental Health Science from EKU, Vonia began as a practitioner in Broward County, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She returned to Kentucky in 1997 to join the Frankfort Dept. of Public Health, followed by 7+ years with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. In 2005 Vonia returned to the Frankfort Dept. of Public Health as the Environmental Health Section Supervisor. During this time Vonia was an Adjunct Professor with Eastern Kentucky University. She added an MPH degree from EKU in 2005. In the fall of 2015 Vonia moved from practitioner to become a full-time EKU faculty member. Vonia brings her wealth of practitioner experience into every environmental health course she teaches at EKU. She has recently added a Doctorate in Education, Policy and Leadership to her many credentials.
Vonia enjoys weaving stories of field experiences throughout her lessons and teaching time. She is a contributing author on numerous published articles. Mentoring students through projects, thesis work and internships is a favorite part of her work. Vonia continues to serve on committees and as a volunteer in various capacities to further environmental health education.
Jamie Hisel of Eastern Kentucky University
Secretary (Two-year term July 2023 to July 2025)
Jamie Hisel currently serves as Senior Clinical Faculty in the Environmental Health Science Department at Eastern Kentucky University where she teaches a variety of courses in the program curriculum. She has been with the department for over 12 years and serves as the faculty advisor for all EHS students, co-advisor for the student organizations and is the lead recruiter for the program. In addition to her service to the University and AEHAP, Jamie serves as Secretary for the Kentucky Environmental Health Association
Jamie is also a part-time consultant for an Environmental and Occupational Health consulting group based out of Lexington, KY. She is currently completing her DrPH in Environmental and Occupational Health at East Carolina University.
Geraldine Riouff of Western Carolina University (NC)
Member-at-Large (Completing Three-year term to July 2023)
Geraldine Riouff earned her Bachelor of Environmental Health Science with an emphasis on Occupational Safety and Health and a Masters’ Degree in Project Management from Western Carolina University (WCU). She began her career in the Onsite Water Protection Section of the Jackson County NC Health Department, then moved into the Food, Lodging, and Institution Program. She served the citizens of Jackson County, NC for seventeen years. She is inspired to have a positive impact on students and peers. She assists students in her classes and labs gain the practical experience aligned with the skills needed by environmental health professionals in the workforce today. Geraldine joined the WCU School of Health Sciences in 2019 as an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Health Sciences Department. Geraldine was in the practice of Environmental Health from January 2001 to March of 2019. Her areas of expertise are Food Sanitation, Residential Environments, and Public Health.
Dr. Stephanie Richards of East Carolina University (NC)
Member-at-Large (Three-year term July 2021 to July 2024)
Stephanie Richards is a Professor in the Environmental Health Sciences program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University
(ECU). She is the Graduate Program Director for the MS Environmental Health Program at ECU. http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/ehsprogram/. She received a bachelor’s degree (Biology) and a MS Environmental Health from ECU and PhD (Entomology) from North Carolina State University. She completed a post-doctoral position in vector biology/arbovirology at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (University of Florida).
Dr. Richards teaches undergraduate (BSEH) and graduate (MSEH, DrPH) courses such as Public Health Pest Management/Vector-Borne Diseases and Environmental Health Program Management. Her research focuses on vector-virus interactions, vector competence, insecticide resistance, mosquito control, and personal protection against pests. Dr. Richards has published 64 peer-reviewed journal articles, one book chapter, and numerous electronic publications. She has mentored dozens of undergraduate/graduate students during her career.
She is the Editor-in-Chief for the international peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Insights. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ehi
Dr. Richards currently serves as Treasurer on the North Carolina Mosquito and Vector Control Association (NCMVCA) Board, with previous appointments as Secretary, Vice-President, and President. She has also served as Vice-President and President for the Mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control Association (nine member states).
Chuck Treser, Executive Director
Following 10 years with a local health department, Chuck was recruited to join the Environmental Health faculty at the University of Washington to lead a project developing a system for assuring the continuing competencies of EH practitioners. At the UW, as a senior lecturer and then principal lecturer, he worked with undergraduate EH students to ensure graduates have a solid educational base for either continuing graduate work or for employment in government, nonprofit, or private organizations. He supervised the internships of undergraduate students at various agencies. His long career has garnered him several lifetime achievement awards including the WSEHA’s Outstanding Sanitarian Award, WSPHA's Tom Drummey Award and the APHA Environment Section's Distinguished Service Award. Since retirement (sort of) as Principal Lecturer Emeritus he remains active serving as the Director of the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP). In this capacity, he represents AEHAP on the Environmental Health & Equity Collaborative and the Nation Environmental Health Partnership Council – two organizations funded by CDC to provide guidance to the National Center for Environmental Health. He is also active in the American Academy of Sanitarians.
Carla Brown, AEHAP Administrator
Carla’s long and varied work life has involved navigating state and federal agencies, deciphering the myriad of rules and regulations and working within the systems that undergird them.
Since February 2016 Carla has worked in various roles to assist staff and volunteers of AEHAP and EHAC. Working with the volunteer board members, the program faculty and students is inspiring. Carla has drawn into the varied and passionate world of environmental health. Taking knowledge and ideas into plans and actions best describes her approach as she continues working alongside the volunteers, program faculty, students and EH partners to further the mission of AEHAP.
