Department of Health Sciences alum Jennifer Holliday ’14 is this year’s recipient of the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) Kusnetz Award, which recognizes her accomplishments and work as an industrial hygienist.

“The Kusnetz Award recognizes industrial hygienists under the age of 40 who exhibit high ethical standards and technical abilities, have provided for the highest standards of health and safety protection for employees for whom they are responsible, and show promise of leadership in the industrial hygiene profession,” said Dr. Thomas Fuller, professor in the Department of Health Sciences. 

Holliday has been involved as a member of AIHA since 2016. She graduated from Illinois State in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in environmental health, holds the title of Certified Industrial Hygienist, and is working toward becoming a Certified Safety Professional.

She has been actively involved in AIHA over the years, serving in several positions which include a Student Section member in 2013 and 2014, and Local Prairie Section President in 2017 and 2019 (to present). She was also selected to attend AIHA’s Future Leaders Institute in 2018.

Holliday has also served as the chair of the Leadership and Advocacy sub-committee for Women in Industrial Hygiene (WIH) since 2018, where she has worked on projects such as the WIH Leadership Scholarship and the 2021 summit.

She has written several articles for publication, with her work featured in The Synergist (AIHA’s monthly magazine) and the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s Exposure magazine. 

“In working with Jennifer on the board of the local section of AIHA over the past few years, I have seen her grow into a respected professional in the field. It is particularly rewarding to have been one of her teachers when she was at ISU,” said Fuller. “I would like to say ‘congratulations’ to my colleagues in the Department of Health Sciences who can share in Jennifer’s successes, and ‘congratulations’ to Jennifer for making us proud.”

Interested in learning more about the environmental health major at Illinois State? Visit the Department of Health Sciences’ website for more information.