ECU professor receives national research award
An ECU professor has received the 2010 Outstanding Researcher Award from the American School Health Association.
Dr. David A. Birch, faculty member in the Heath Education and Promotion Department, received the award at the association’s annual school health conference Oct. 13 in Kansas City, Mo.
The award recognized Birch’s school health research, which has focused on leadership and professional preparation, middle school students’ perceptions of health issues, and parent and family involvement in school health.
Dr. Glen Gilbert, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance, said, “David is widely acclaimed for his contributions in the area of school health research and he is most deserving of this prestigious award.”
Birch began teaching at ECU in 2009. He previously served as professor of health education and chair of the Department of Health Education and Recreation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He has worked for the Maine Department of Educational and Cultural Services and has ten years of public school teaching experience in Maryland.
He is past president of the American Association for Health Education and has held leadership positions in several professional organizations.
