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By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---A faculty member in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) since 2016, Dr. Deneen Long-White has long been lauded for her excellence in teaching, professional development and service.

The associate professor of public health in the School of Health Sciences boasts a number of titles and positions on campus, including interim Public Health Program director, project director of the Eastern Shore Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program (OIFSP) in SU’s Center for Healthy Communities, and immediate past president of the Faculty Senate.

Now, she can add a new title to that list: 2024 recipient of the University’s prestigious Distinguished Faculty Award.

“I have been impressed and amazed at her accomplishments and her commitment to the overall University, and the faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Ellen Schaefer-Salins, associate professor of social work, who nominated Long-White for the honor, noting her dedication to the campus and community.

In the classroom, Long-White has taught seven public health courses with the guiding philosophy that students should be actively engaged in learning and be given assignments that allow them to translate theory to practical experience, often incorporating modern technology into her lessons. She also believes education is a two-way street.

“I believe that everyone should be lifelong learners and that education does not stop once we receive our Ph.D.,” she said. “We learn from our students just as they learn from us.”

Her class reviews reflect these values, with students noting that she “knows how to be interactive with her students and how to engage them to better have them understand the material” and “makes sure students are involved and actively participate during lectures to keep us engaged.”

Long-White also believes in service, to both the University and the greater community. At SU, she has served on the planning committee for the annual SU Anti-Racism Conference, volunteered for the SU Student Research Conference and currently is a member of SU’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaccreditation steering committee. She also is a National Commission for Health Education Credentialing ambassador for SU, promoting the health education profession and encouraging students to become certified health education specialists.

Beyond campus, she has established “Popping for Public Health,” a monthly health education awareness event; serves on the Wicomico County Health Department-led Tri-County Sexually-Transmitted Infection (STI) Task Force; and founded the Wicomico County True to You Maryland Youth Advisory Board (YAB), which works with area teenagers to address health issues.

“I count the YAB as my most significant achievement in service not only because of the work we do, but also the networking opportunity it provides to collaborate on activities which have the potential to help SU students and adolescents in the larger community live healthier lifestyles,” she said.

As if that weren’t enough, Long-White also has secured more than $2.7 million in federal and state grants for SU, with another potential $4.5 million pending.

“These grants focus on my passion and research interest for maternal and child health (MCH), and developing the workforce to address health issues of vulnerable populations within MCH,” she said.

In addition to the OIFSP and YAB, these grant-funded initiatives have included the Maryland Optimal Adolescent Health Program and Maryland Department of Health-sponsored Keep It Sexually Safe Project (Project KISS II).

Long-White has shared her research and scholarship broadly through numerous presentations at national conferences and peer-reviewed publications that most recently include a chapter on noted 20th-century sociologist and anthropologist John Gibbs St. Clair Drake for the Routledge book Fifty Key Scholars of Black Social Thought.

“Dr. Long-White exemplifies excellence in teaching, scholarship and service,” said Dr. Lisa Seldomridge, SU professor of nursing and past interim CHHS dean. “She is a wonderful colleague and staunch advocate for faculty, staff and students who is most deserving of this award.”

Celebrating its 37th year in 2024, the Distinguished Faculty Award has been bestowed upon 79 faculty. Long-White will be added to an honor roll listing all recipients since the award was established.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.