Ann Nolte

Illinois State University Distinguished Professor Emerita Ann Nolte passed away on March 10. Her career as an educator, author, researcher, consultant and public speaker spanned 40 years and ranged from high school to university settings.

Nolte developed the curriculum that developed into the Health Education Program, Department of Health Sciences, at Illinois State and was the first faculty member of the program. At the time of her death, she was working closely with the Health Sciences faculty to develop a master’s degree in public health. Nolte was named a distinguished professor in 1987 and continued to add to her distinguished career by contributing to the growth and direction of the profession of health education.

Born in Georgia and raised in Washington, D.C., Nolte earned her Ph.D. in health education from Ohio State with a minor in educational philosophy and communication. She taught in the public schools in Virginia, developed a K-12 health education plan while at Ohio State, served as associate director of the School Health Education Study Project in Virginia, and worked with the Public Health Service, the Department of Education and other branches of the government to improve health education. Nolte then taught at the State University of New York at Brockport, prior to coming Illinois State.

Nolte received the Warren E. Schaller Presidential Citation and the National Honor Award from Eta Sigma Gamma; the Presidential Citation and the American Association for Health Education Scholar Award from the American Association for Health Education; Honor Award and R. Tait McKenzie Award from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; the Distinguished Service Award from the American School Health Association and the Distinguished Fellow of the Society from the Society for Public Health Education. She served as American Association for Health Education president and was serving as the American Association for Health Education historian until her death.

Nolte founded the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education Foundation and served as a board member for that foundation until her death. She established numerous scholarships at Illinois State, including the Ann Nolte Scholar in Education Program, which brings students, faculty and the community together through a nationally recognized scholar presentation on campus. The program increases awareness of the health education role in promoting community, family, school and personal health.

To contribute to the program, click on Giving and, in the comment section, type Ann Nolte Scholar in Education Program.