ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) is proud to announce that the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will be awarded the Most Valuable Partner Award during the 2026 Annual Conference in Portland, April 22-24.
“Receiving this award is truly an honor for the UW-La Crosse (UWL) Public Health & Community Health Education Department,” said Katie Wagoner, who is a teaching professor and Preceptorship Director at the school. “We are incredibly grateful to be recognized by SOPHE, an organization whose mission so closely aligns with our own. Our partnership with SOPHE has been both meaningful and impactful, and this recognition affirms the value of that collaboration. We feel especially proud to contribute to opportunities that connect our students with the broader public health education community and support their professional growth.”
This award is given by SOPHE staff to recognize excellence in collaboration and partnership with SOPHE to improve the profession and the public’s health.
UWL’s accredited Public Health & Community Health Education program helps address community health issues like infectious disease and mental health.
“We believe this recognition reflects our department’s deep commitment to preparing the next generation of health education specialists and actively engaging them in the field,” Wagoner said. “At UWL, we prioritize creating pathways for students to network and participate in professional development experiences, such as SOPHE’s annual conferences and Advocacy Summit.”
In addition to being a valuable sponsor and parter to SOPHE, UWL is exemplary in preparing public health students for a career in the field after graduation.
“By encouraging student involvement and maintaining an active partnership with SOPHE, we aim to foster a strong, practice-ready workforce dedicated to advancing public health and community health education,” Wagoner said.
SOPHE will present all awards and scholarships to public health professionals, health education researchers, faculty, programs, and practitioners at the 2026 SOPHE Annual Conference. These awards and scholarships recognize significant advancements in the profession of health education and health promotion and outstanding contributions of veterans and rising stars to improving the public’s health.
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About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education, and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state, and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org.
