Elena M. Sliepcevich's Students and Professional Legacy

Dr. Elaine M. Vitello

Elaine M. Vitello, Ph.D., is one of the major key leaders in Health Education most strongly influenced by and connected to Dr. Sliepcevich. After earning her Bachelor's (1967) from Ohio Dominion University, she completed her Master's (1971) degree under Dr. Sliepcevich at The Ohio State University. "Dr S." then mentored Dr. Vitello when they both came to SIU as she completed her Ph.D. (1977) in Health Education. She had the honor of being a Charter Certified Health Education Specialist (#8) when the profession moved to formal certification.

Dr. Vitello's 25 years career at SIU included: Visiting Assistant Professor (1977) in what was then known as the College of Technical Careers; Associate Professor (1982); full Professor and Director of Advanced Technical Studies (1988).

In her tenure as Dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts (1990 - 2002), she restructured the entire College, shifting from an emphasis on Associate degrees to Bachelor's degrees. In 2017, over 2400 students are enrolled in 7 Master's, 14 Bachelor's, and 2 Associate degree programs. Further, Dr. Vitello conceptualized, sought funding for, and helped launch the $35 million project at Southern Illinois Airport now known as the Transportation Education Center. She became Acting Director of the Center for Rural Health and Social Services Development (2002-2009) after her retirement from SIU (2002).

Dr. Vitello made presentations/papers (160) and served in numerous professional leadership roles among all Associations (AAHE, ASHA, APHA, SOPHE) as well as the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. Among other recognitions, she was recipient of the American Association for Health Education's (AAHE) Professional Service Award, Presidential Citation Award, Charter Fellow. She was author/co-author of 38 articles, 26 abstracts in peer-reviewed journals; 2 chapters and a foreword in professional books.

During these years, as cross-appointed Professor of Health Education, she and Dr. Sliepcevich co-taught the 8-credit Foundations of Health Education graduate course required of all Master's and doctoral students; and was Chair/Committee member of many Health Education Master's and Ph.D. committees together.

Dr. Vitello assisted in acquiring the initial donations of original documents for the Elena Sliepcevich Centre for Health Education Studies from the Sliepcevich family. She also contributed, from her work with Dr. Sliepcevich, many artifacts that are found among the extensive Elena Sliepcevich Papers.

Elaine M. Vitello, Ph.D. Student Leadership Award

Elaine M. Vitello, Ph.D. was appointed Dean of the College of Technical Careers on July 1, 1990. Not long after her appointment, the Illinois Board of Higher Education recommended that the College, which primarily offered Associate degree programs, be eliminated as part of a statewide effort to shift most Associate degree programs to community colleges. But with authorization from the SIU Board of Trustees, Dr. Vitello and her faculty and staff restructured the entire College and crated new, relevant Baccalaureate programs. The College was saved. To reflect those changes, it became the College of Applied Sciences and Arts (CASA). Most CASA programs became part of the new College of Health and Human Sciences under a university-wide academic restructuring completed in 2021.

Even when she retired in 2002, Dean Vitello continue to play an important role, working on a project involving tobacco prevention and control among college-age women for SIU’s Center for Rural Health, funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

In 2022, the College of Health and Human Sciences introduced an annual Elaine M. Vitello, Ph.D. Student Leadership Award to honor and recognize its first woman Dean. During her tenure, Dr. Vitello enhanced the landscape of many of our programs by advancing them from Associates to Bachelor degrees. She dedicated resources and time to ensure SIU moved Automotive and Aviation programs into new facilities to equip them with state-of-the-art technology and classrooms. SIU would not have the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center without Dr. Vitello’s vision and groundwork.

Award recipients display characteristics similar to those demonstrated by Dr. Vitello throughout her career. Each award recipient receives a $500 scholarship and up to $2000 to attend a national Women’s Leadership Conference. Additionally, a faculty mentor works with the student to enhance leadership skills. The first two recipients of the Elaine M. Vitello, Ph.D. Leadership Award are Arianna Goss (Health Care Management) (2022) and Jacqueline Crain (Sports Administration) (2023). The College intends to endow the award to ensure this recognition continues at SIU.

Dr. Ella M. Phillips Lacey

A triple alumna of Southern Illinois University, Ella Phillips Lacey earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1964, a master’s degree in rehabilitation and human services in 1972, and a doctorate in education in 1979. 

Beginning in 1972 as a field coordinator and instructor for the SIU School of Medicine, Lacey worked to improve health in local communities for 22 years. In addition to serving as a professor at SIU, she was the coordinator for the Office of Community Health Program Development, and held dual appointments with the School of Medicine and SIUC’s College of Education and Human Services.

Engaged in health systems planning, Lacey was instrumental in developing and implementing a plan that improved ambulance services in seven Southern Illinois counties. She served on state councils and commissions focusing on AIDS, welfare and hypertension. She researched Pica, an eating disorder more commonly found in women with limited financial resources, and she served on state cancer prevention, adolescent pregnancy and child abuse committees.

Dr. Charles E. Basch

Charles E. Basch earned his Ph.D. from SIUC in 1984. In a 2011 special issue of Journal of School Health, Basch argues that academic achievement disparities persisting in the wake of the No Child Left Behind Act can be reduced by implementing school health programs focusing on problems disproportionately affecting low-income, urban minority youth. Basch is the Richard March Hoe Professor of Health and Education at Columbia University.

Dr. Joyce V. Fetro

Among higher education academic scholars are a rare group of professionals who also have contributed extensively as “hands-on” practitioners. These researchers translate the meaning and importance of scholarly work for day-to-day application in a variety of settings for myriad target audiences.  

Dr. Joyce V. Fetro came full circle twice in her pursuit of best practice. After 14 years as a Middle School teacher in Massachusetts (1971-1984), she completed her Master's degree (1985) and PhD (1987) at SIU under the guidance of Dr. Elaine M. Vitello. Dr. Judy C. Drolet also served as a Committee member for her degrees. She was a graduate student in classes taught by Dr. Elena M. Sliepcevich. In 1989, she became a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Initially, she applied her knowledge and skills as Director of Research (1987-1990) for ETR Associates, an award winning non-profit that focuses on youth development materials. In this capacity, she did cutting edge research while also developing innovative technology for teachers. Dr. Fetro then, as Supervisor and Curriculum Specialist (1990-1997) for San Francisco Unified School District, took this rich blend of skills and experience to ensure that students received a comprehensive Health Education program.

Dr. Fetro became Professor (1997) and Chair (2009 - 2013) of SIU's Health Education Department as well as being recognized as University-wide Distinguished Teacher of the Year (2005). She was Chair/Committee Member for 27 PhD Committees and 29 Master's committees at SIU.

Dr. Fetro’s research focused on such topics as personal and social skills, teens’ risky health behaviors, drug, alcohol and tobacco education, effectiveness of teen pregnancy prevention programs, and Middle School wellness, among others. Over her career, she received nearly $18 million in grants to support her work. Her papers and presentations (over 125) and training offered cutting edge, best practices models for school health professionals and practitioners. She was author/co-author of 14 book chapters, 36 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 16 books.

Among numerous awards, she was American Association for Health Education Scholar (AAHE) (2009), and recipient of the American School Health Association’s (ASHA) highest honor, William A. Howe Award (2010), that recognizes outstanding professional contributions and service in furthering Health Education. This Association previously presented Dr. Fetro with Distinguished Service (2002) and Outstanding School Health Educator (1991) Awards.

Dr. Fetro provided professional development services as Consultant to 15 large, urban school districts in 14 states. She served on national experts panels for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (1991 - 2009), was Visiting Professor for the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2001 - 2008), and served in numerous leadership roles for ASHA, AAHE, and Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Science Honorary.

Dr. Fetro dedicated her nearly 4 decades of professional contributions directly to School Health Education. Her collective research, curriculum development, training, and mentoring have extensive impact across the nation and internationally. She continued the legacy of her mentors, Dr. Sliepcevich, Dr. Vitello, and Dr. Drolet, with a renowned and highly respected career.

Dr. Judith K. Luebke

Born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, Dr. Judith K. Luebke was a triple alumna of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She graduated with a dual major in Sociology and Psychology in 1974 and a Master’s degree in Sociology in 1978. Inspired from work with nonprofit community-based health programs in Southern Illinois, she pursued and earned her Ph.D. in Health Education in 1985 under the direction of Dr. Elena M. Sliepcevich.

Dr. Luebke joined the faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the fall of 1985. She edited two professional publications, worked with and supported health education honor society Eta Sigma Gamma, and was the faculty sponsor for MSU’s Amnesty International student group for nearly 20 years. Former students remember Dr. Luebke fondly for her mentorship and guidance. She retired in 2017 and passed away on August 27, 2023.

Dr. Alan J. Sofalvi

Alan J Sofalvi is a Saluki and well-known member of the Sliepcevich "academic tree." He received his University professional preparation at three highly respected Health Education programs beginning with his Bachelor of Education [Major: Community Health Education] at The University of Toledo (1981).

He completed a Master of Science in Education [Major: Community Health Education] in 1985 at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). During this time, he was a student of Dr Elena M Sliepcevich, namesake of this Centre. Dr. Judy C Drolet served as his Chair along with Dr. Elaine M. Vitello and Dr. David Duncan as his degree commitee. He became widely recognized for his unique thesis exploring Health-related Content of Sunday Comic Strips (1985) acknowledged by a national conference presentation at the American School Health Association (1985); and a peer-reviewed publication in the national Journal of School Health (1986).

Prior to doctoral work, he served as Instructor of Health Education at East Carolina University (Greenville) (1985-1986); and Longwood College (Farmville, VA) (1986-1987).

As Graduate Assistant (1987-1989) and Instructor of Health Education (1989-1990), he completed requirements for a doctorate at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Sofalvi’s PhD in Health Education degree was granted in 1990. His dissertation explored Correlation between News Coverage, Real-life Event, and Public Opinion of the Most Important Health Problems in the United States with Dr. Collins Airhihenbuwa as his doctoral committee Chair.

Upon completing his doctorate, Dr. Sofalvi taught as Assistant Professor of Health Education at Georgia College (Milledgeville, GA) from 1990-1994. In addition to both undergraduate and graduate courses in School Health and Community Health Education, and Professional Preparation, he supervised Community Health Education interns. His academic career continued as Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Education (1994-1997) in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). From 1997 until his retirement in 2024, Dr. Sofalvi taught myriad content and methods courses, and supervised Community Health Education Interns (1997-2000; Spr 2009) at State University of New York at Cortland (1997- 2025).

During these years, Dr. Sofalvi authored/co-authored 16 peer-reviewed national journal publications and made 24 national conference professional presentations. He was very active and held national office 10 times in four national associations as well as the Health Education professional honorary Eta Sigma Gamma, serving on its Board of Directors as National Historian (2016-2023). He also was Historian of the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education (2019-2023; and chaired the History and Philosophy CommiUee (2002-2004) of the American Association for Health Education.

Dr. Sofalvi was named a Fellow (2005) by, and received the national Distinguished Service Award (2006) of the American School Health Association. In 2011, he was named a fellow of the American Association for Health Education.

In April 2025, Dr Sofalvi was invited to be a consultant for the Elena M Sliepcevich Centre for Health Education Studies. He made an important contribution to the profession by spending a week at SIU Morris Library’s Special Collections Research Centre. He applied his thorough understanding of the history of Health Education/School Health as well as his skills in historical research to selecting key documents to digitize from Dr. Sliepcevich’s papers in the Centre’s Collections. These artifacts now will be more widely available for class use and research.