Ginny Kidwell

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EDUCATION

30+, History Concentration, East Tennessee State University

MALS, Public Administration, East Tennessee State University

BS, Education/Physical Education, Health & Recreation, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2010-Present  
Tennessee Institute of Public Health, East Tennessee State University College of Public Health, Executive Director

2003-2010      
Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, Jobs Development Specialist

2004-2010      
Office of the Governor, Northeast Tennessee Regional Liaison

1995-2003      
Tennessee Institute for Economic Development, East Tennessee State University, Director

1999-2003      
East Tennessee State University at Greeneville (off-campus center), Director

1995               
Tennessee Public Service Commission, Chief of Staff

1987-1995      
Tennessee Department of Education, Legislative Liaison & Special Projects Coordinator

1982-1987      
Tennessee State Senate Education Committee, Research Analyst & Special Assistant to the Chair

SELECTED RESEARCH SUPPORT

National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) Survive & Thrive (2012-2013)
The goal of this project was to provide a one-year public health leadership training to new and aspiring local health officials in the southeast region of the United States which covered 12 states.

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps – University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute  
(2011-2016)
The Tennessee Institute of Public Health serves as the lead agency for the annual release and dissemination of the County Health Rankings in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health. She has directed twelve community-based projects across Tennessee and in partnership with various organizations and public health institutes in conjunction with the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps annual release.

Regional Roadmap for a Healthier Appalachian Tennessee (2013-2015)
Directed a 20 county project sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Niswonger Foundation and Eastman Chemical Company to increase multi-sector collaboration at the grassroots level, including economic development, education and health.

Healthy WEST: Working to Energize & Strengthen Tennessee (2015-2016)

Directed a 20 county project in rural West Tennessee sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation and Jackson Regional Partnership to increase multi-sector collaboration at the grassroots level, including economic development, education and health.

Regional Roadmap 2: Down the Road to a Healthier Appalachia (2015-2017)

Directing a 52 county project in the Appalachian region of Tennessee sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, Niswonger Foundation and Eastman Chemical Company to expand the Regional Roadmap project. Recently awarded funding to 33 community-based and/or regional projects

Reducing Childhood Obesity and Chronic Disease in Central Appalachia – Data Analysis and Planning to Support Promising Practices and Strategies (2015-2016)
Appalachian Funders Network in partnership with NORC and ETSU College of Public Health’s Department of Health Sciences.

Healthy Middle TN (2016-2017)
Was recently awarded funding for a 21 county project in Middle Tennessee sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to expand into the fourth phase of the Regional Roadmap program.

Collaborative Mobilization Initiative toward Population Health Improvement in Central Appalachia (2016-2017)
Principal investigator to develop a set of recommendations for the formation of a population health network in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia awarded by the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Model to Interrupt Social Determinants of Rural Health (2016-2017)
Directing a project in Hancock County, Tennessee funded by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation in partnership with Tennessee LIFEPATH and ETSU College of Public Health

Tobacco-Free Youth World Café (2016)
Directed a 3-state project series of World Cafes to prioritize regional focus on moving forward with tobacco-free youth policies funded by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute County Health Rankings & Roadmaps in partnership with the Niswonger Foundation, the Healthy Appalachia Institute at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and the South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health

Correctional Career Pathways : A Journey to Hope (2016)
Directed a showcase to promote and expand a model workforce development/criminal justice/adult education project led by the Greene County, Tennessee Sheriff’s department funded by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute County Health Rankings & Roadmaps in partnership with DTR of Tennessee and the Greeneville City Schools Adult Education program 

HONORS

Honorary Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 1999

ETSU Staff Senate

Dean’s Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to ETSU College of Public Health, 2015

Health Care Hero Award, Tri-Cities Business Journal, 2016

Outstanding Staff Award, ETSU College of Public Health, 2016

Greeneville High School Sports Hall of Fame

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Ginny Kidwell serves as the Executive Director for the Tennessee Institute of Public Health at the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health. Ginny is experienced in local, state and federal legislation and policy in the fields of education, economic development and public health. She is experienced in state government, program planning and logistics and has extensive experience in partnership building and maintenance. Prior to her current position, Ginny served as jobs development specialist with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and also served during that time as the Governor’s regional liaison in Northeast Tennessee. Her previous experience includes directing operations at the ETSU-Greeneville off-campus center and as director of the Tennessee Institute for Economic Development. While working in Nashville, Ginny served in administrative positions with the Tennessee Public Service Commission, Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee General Assembly. Ginny is co-director for the Center for Rural and Appalachian Health.  She recently served as co-PI for the NACCHO Survive and Thrive Regional Training Center.