February 10, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB Associate Professor Retta R. Evans, Ph.D., has been named as the University Health Education Professional of the Year by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) southern district division.

The award is given annually to one individual from one of the 13 states in the AAHPERD southern district division. The award will be presented to Evans on April 4 at the organization's annual conference in Tampa.

Evans' areas of expertise include health education, health behaviors, eating disorders and youth health and fitness. She has published articles in numerous journals, including the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Journal of School Health, Health Promotion Practice and Perceptual and Motor Skills. Evans also serves as a reviewer for various national and international peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, International Electronic Journal of Health Education and the Journal of American College Health.

In addition, she has been a member of several state and regional committees that deal with youth health and obesity. She received the Alabama State Health Educator of the Year Award in 2008.

Evans also has been selected to serve on the American Association for Health Education's (AAHE) Ethics Committee. The committee develops procedures to educate and advise AAHE membership regarding ethical practices.

Evans teaches in the UAB School of Education's Department of Human Studies. She has been a member of the UAB faculty since 2003.