Incoming Tennessee Public Health Association President is the Second Consecutive On-line Alumnus
Despite living and working on opposite ends of Tennessee, recently inaugurated president of TPHA, Matt McDaniel, shares something very important with his predecessor Paula Masters--both received their Master of Public Health degrees from ETSU, while working full-time with the Tennessee Department of Health.
Matt works for the West Region as the County Director for the Tipton, Lauderdale, and Haywood County Health Departments. Prior to this position, he worked in Public Health Emergency Preparedness for the Shelby County Health Department and the West TN Regional Health Office, along with a stint in TENNderCARE with Shelby County.
Prior to coming to ETSU to direct LIFEPATH, the Public Health Training Center, Paula was the Regional Health Promotion Coordinator for the Northeast Region, and, before that, she served as a Public Health Educator for the Washington County Health Department.
Though living over 400 miles apart, Matt and Paula both received their MPH degrees through ETSU's on-line programs--Paula in 2009 and Matt in 2010.
Of his MPH training, Matt wrote:
"Getting my MPH online from ETSU was an excellent choice. The professors were responsive, the classes were challenging, and the processes for working with students on the other side of TN were practiced and smooth. I feel that this degree was what really helped propel me into the position I hold today.
Paula said:
The online MPH provides the best of both worlds-the perfect marriage between convenience and comprehensiveness. I furthered my education while remaining in a full-time position. Courses are designed with public health professionals in mind and the professors blend theory and application perfectly-a wonderful experience!
Paula was inaugurated as President of the Tennessee Public Health Association, in 2013, and passed the gavel to Matt in a ceremony earlier this month. TPHA is the largest American Public Health Association affiliate organization in the country.
