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. Kim Lichtveld of University of Findlay (OH)

President (One-year term July 2022 to July 2023)

BIO:  Kim Lichtveld is an Assistant 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 in 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 the toxicity and mechanisms of action for exposures to both individual chemicals and mixtures of chemicals in the air.

Dr. Benjamin Ryan of Baylor University (TX)

Past-President (One-year term July 2022 to July 2023)

BIO: Dr. Ben Ryan is a Clinical Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science at Baylor University. In this role he engages in research, teaching, coordinating off campus practicums, mentoring students, and working with multidisciplinary teams of specialists and stakeholders at local, national, and international levels. Dr. Ryan actively engages professional organizations and agencies such as the National Environmental Health Association, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and World Health Organization. He is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and has led workshops, research, teaching (undergraduate, post-graduate and executive levels), and operational activities in the private, not-for-profit and government sectors in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Dr. Ryan has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, guidelines, edited books, book chapters and conducted media interviews. His field experience includes environmental health assessments in urban and rural settings, responses to natural disasters and disease outbreaks, managing projects in Indigenous communities and facilitating health services for asylum seekers.

Dr. Michele Morrone of Ohio University

President-Elect (One-year term July 2022 to July 2023)

BIO:  Dr. Morrone is a professor and coordinator of the Environmental Health Science program at Ohio University. 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, 3^rd 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.

During her tenure at Ohio University, Dr. Morrone has served as the Chair of the Department of Social and Public Health, the Director of the Appalachian Rural Health Institute, the Director of Environmental Studies, and the Associate Director of Academic Affairs for the Voinovich School. Her service outside of the university includes being a founding member of the Ohio Rural Health Association, conducting community health assessments for small rural counties in Ohio, writing the Ohio Rural Health Development Plan, serving as the President of the Appalachian Studies Association, and serving as a peer reviewer for the Fulbright US Scholar Program and the National Institutes of Health Special Emphasis Panel on Excellence in Environmental Health Research. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Ohio Community Rural Health Star and the University Professor Teaching award. She was also a Fulbright Research Chair in Science and the Environment at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. 

Vonia Grabeel of Eastern Kentucky University 

Treasurer (Two-Year term July 2022 to July 2024)

BIO: 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 2021 to July 2023)

BIO: Jamie currently serves as Clinical Faculty in the Environmental Health Science Department and teaches a variety of courses in the program curriculum. She has been with the department for 10 years, serving as the faculty advisor for all EHS students, advisor for the Student Environmental Health Association EKU Chapter (SEHA), and is the lead recruiter for the program. She is a past President and the current Secretary of the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP). She recently received one of EKU’s highest teaching awards - “Critical Reading Teacher of the Year.”  She has also received numerous recognitions over the years for “Outstanding Instructor” for First Year Courses. In addition, she is a part-time consultant for an Environmental and Occupational Health consulting group based out of Lexington, KY.

Her research interests include addiction & substance abuse and the environmental impact on our society, particularly pharmaceuticals in our water sources.

Geraldine Riouff of Western Carolina University (NC)

Member-at-Large (Completing Three-year term to July 2023)

BIO: 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)

BIO: 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).