| May 13, 2005 | |
| A fond farewell goes out to Rich Killingsworth, research associate professor in HBHE., who is leaving Chapel Hill to begin work with the Ruth Mott Foundation in Flint, MI, as their new director of Health Promotion. Rich, whose work focuses on improving physical activity through policy, urban design and community-based approaches, has been with UNC since 2001 as the head of the innovative Active Living by Design (ALbD) program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Indeed, Rich specifically chose UNC, from among a wide field of competitors, as ALbD’s home. For the Department, Rich was instrumental in initiating the dual degree master’s program in HBHE and UNC’s Department of City and Regional Planning. We believe this dual degree program is the first in the country to link planning and public health and will continue to highlight the best of both schools. In addition to the dual degree program, Rich developed a new course that supports the link between these two fields. Outside of UNC, Rich worked with North Carolina State University’s Design Studio to add a health perspective in the landscape and architecture program. Rich also served on the Pedestrian Bicycle Council and Morgan Creek Trail (Chapel Hill) planning board. Rich spent the last eight years developing the Active Community Environments initiative, first at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and then as the Active Living by Design program under the auspices of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He presented at conferences across the US and world and authored or coauthored over 20 articles on the subject of physical activity and the built environment. His impact was felt in both the walk and the talk.”I thank everyone at the University,” said Rich, “and especially in HBHE, for the opportunity of working with you. The work has been extremely rewarding, and I am constantly amazed by how much we have accomplished together in such a short time.”
For further information please contact Catherine Vorick either by phone at 919-966-3918 or by email at cvorick@email.unc.edu |
