Bio

Bio-Abridged: Sandra Owen

Ms. Owen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (Florida State University, 1966); a Masters degree in Education (Georgia State University, 1981); and is ABD in Educational Psychology from Georgia State University. She is a Fellow of the American School Health Association; a member of the peer review panel for the Journal of School Health; and is a charter member of the Georgia Federation for Professional Health Educators. Ms. Owen was one of nine people appointed to participate on the national C.D.C. Expert Panel for Elementary School Programs in Tobacco-Use Prevention. This panel assisted the CDC in developing Elementary level tobacco prevention guidelines. She served as editor of the recent revision of Health Ahead/ Heart Smart K-6 curriculum of the Bogalusa Heart Study.

Her professional contributions to School Health Education span 28 years. Ms. Owen has:

      1.       Authored and co-authored health curriculum K-12;
2.      Coordinated the Georgia component of the National School Health
      Education Evaluation Study;
3.      Co-authored the Program Evaluation Logic Model for the Metro
     Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross;
4.      Assessed the K-6 Health Ahead/Heart Smart Curriculum
     (Bogalusa Heart Study) using the Curriculum Analysis Tool
     developed by the Educational Development Center for the Centers
     for Disease Control and Prevention; and
5.      Authored and co-authored 25 articles for refereed journals.

Ms. Owen has served in the roles of principal investigator, outside evaluator, and project director on eight USDOE and NHLBI funded grants. Her research interests include:

1. Health Education Pedagogy;
2. Contemporary teaching models for Health Education;
3. Measuring Student interest (health specific);
4. Web-Questing Through Technology;
5. Peer Health Education Model for Learning (K-4)

Ms. Owen has been cited by the US Department of Health and Human Services as a Young Prominent Woman in Science. She is the national recipient of the Founders Award in Creativity from Sigma Theta Tau, International Nurses Honor Society and was recognized by President Ford in the Rose Garden of the White House for her development of the 6th grade “3 R’s and HBP” curriculum. In 2003, Ms. Owen was honored by the Georgia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance as the "Health Educator of the Year (University-based)". In 2005, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Kinesiology and Health, College of Education, Georgia State University and was selected to appear in Who's Who in Education (published by Academic Keys).

Ms. Owen is a charter and life-time member of the Georgia Federation of Professional Health Educators(GFPHE), a SOPHE Chapter. She has served on the GFPHE Board as Secretary(2002) and President-elect(2003). Ms. Owen has also held leadership
positions on the Research Council, American School Health Association (secretary), and the Emory University Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau (president).

Professional Experience:

Curriculum Development:

            "Poison Prevention Curriculum" (K-3)
            "Health CADETS" (K-4)
            "3 R's and HBP" (6^th grade)
            Revision of Health Ahead/Heart Smart (K-6)
            "Risk Reduction It's the Name of the Game" (7^th grade)

Health Education:

1972-74: Clinic coordinator, Emory University, HDFP, NIH funded HBP research
1975-85: Health Educator, Georgia Affiliate, American Heart Association
                 coordinated "3R's and HBP" participation in the National School Health
                 Education Evaluation Study(1983-85)
1976-present: Consultant, Health Ahead/Heart Smart (K-6) Curriculum,
                Bogalusa Heart Study; Curriculum assessment/revision using the
                 Curriculum Analysis Tool (CAT; 1999-2001)
1985-87: NIH funding to evaluate "3R's and HBP" (through University of Georgia)
1987-91: Field Operations Manager, SE Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools
               and Communities (School-Community drug prevention education, (K-16)
1991-present: Professional Education Faculty (Health); Dept. Kinesiology and
             Health, Georgia State University (teach undergraduate health courses in
             the College of Education for preservice K-12 teachers and coordinate the
             Health emphasis of the graduate HPE program; teach educational
             technology applications specific to health education)

Publications:

Owen, S. & Brighton, S. (1997) Description of Comprehensive School Health Program/Wellness Conference Impact: A Three Year U.S. Department of Education Funded Project. Final Report.
            Owen, S. & Lambert, R. (1996). Early intervention referral issues surrounding family and staff identification of need for services. Making a Difference for Children, Families and Communities: Partnerships among Researcher, Practitioners, and Policy Makers. Proceedings) Washington, D.C.: Administration of Children, Youth, and Families.
            Owen, S. (1994). Final Evaluation Report: School Personnel Training Grant, #s207A10123-93, University of West Florida. Washington, D.C.: US Department of Education.
            Owen, S. (1994). Final Evaluation Report: School Personnel Training Grant, #s207A10176-92A, East Tennessee State University. Washington, D.C.: US Department of Education.
            McLaughlin, J., Owen, S., Fors, S.,& Levinson, R. (1992). The school child as health educator. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education,5(2),147-165.
            Fors, S., Owen, S., Hall,D., McLaughlin, J., & Levinson, R. (1989). Evaluation of a diffusion strategy for school-based hypertension education. Health Education Quarterly,16(2), 255-261.
            Fors, S. & Owen, S. (July, 1986). Diffusion of hypertension education using a school-based program. International Symposium on Health Education in Schools. Jerusalem, Israel.
            Owen, S., Kilpatrick, M., Lavery,S., Gosner,H. & Nelson,S. (1985). Selecting and recruiting health programs for the School Health Education Evaluation. Journal of School Health,55(8), 305-308.