Faculty Named to the American Public Health Association’s Governing Council
Derek Shendell, a professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at the Rutgers School of Public Health, has been named a Governing Councilor in the Environment Section with the American Public Health Association (APHA). His 2-year term will begin in November 2025.
The APHA’s Governing Council serves as the Association’s primary policy-making body. It establishes organizational policies, amends bylaws, and oversees the conduct of business.
The council also reviews reports from APHA’s boards and committees, elects the Executive Board and officers, and recognizes honorary members. Additionally, it manages the structure and coordination of APHA’s Sections and Affiliate Associations.
Shendell’s research focuses on community- and school-based studies with local participation, educational training (both in-person and online/hybrid), service and technical assistance, and evidence-based policy recommendations.
As director of the New Jersey Safe Schools Program, he leads statewide injury surveillance for adolescents and young adult workers, student-athletes, and career-technical-vocational students. His work spans safety and health training, child labor and wage laws, and science-to-policy translation.
In addition, Shendell studies the health and safety impacts of climate change on school-age children, their teachers, coaches, and families, including indoor and outdoor environmental quality in K-12 settings.
“I am honored to be one of three elected Governing Councilors (GC) for the Environment Section of APHA,” said Shendell. “I have received this elected responsibility in the past [twice, 2006-08 & 2016-18]. The current Section leaders emphasized to me the importance of ensuring issues pertaining to environmental public health and safety have a voice in APHA. We as GC will stand by the science.”
