Jeff Housman holds a doctorate degree in health education and a master's degree in kinesiology and is a tenured associate professor in health and human performance at Texas State University, where he teaches courses in community and public health, health behavior theory, and behavioral research and statistics. Understanding the importance of research, as well as remaining current with the industry, Dr. Housman's research interests include health behavior, substance use, and program evaluation. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and several textbook chapters, in addition to Alters & Schiff Essential Concepts for Healthy Living. He has also contributed to several professional publications, including A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists for the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., and he has served as a consulting editor for the Journal of American College Health and The Health Educator. Dr. Housman is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Honorary, the American College Health Association, and the Society for Public Health Education. As the lead author on Alters & Schiff Essential Concepts for Healthy Living, Eighth Edition, Dr. Housman brings his education expertise, background in community and public health, exercise science, and health behavior, as well as his extensive writing experience, to this best-selling product and author team. Mary Odum holds a doctorate degree in health education, a master's degree in health, exercise, and sport sciences, and a bachelor's degree in psychology. She is an assistant professor in health and human performance at Texas State University, where she currently teaches courses in health education and promotion, program planning and evaluation, health behavior theory, and scientific writing. Dr. Odum's research interests include health behavior, community-based health programs, and preparing students as writers, and she serves as a review editor for several academic journals, including the American Journal of Health Behavior. Dr. Odum is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Eta Sigma Gamma Health Education Honorary, the Society for Public Health Educators, and the American Academy of Health Behavior.
