Lucy Forgione, MPH, BS, CHES, HO Major: Community Health Education, Class of 1978 Position: Health Officer and Director of Health Agency: Bernards Township Health Department A 1978 graduate of William Paterson University, Lucy was in the first graduating class of students who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community School Health Education. Shortly after her graduation from William Paterson Lucy began her professional career in public health working as a Community Health Educator at the North Newark Community Health Center. Nearly forty years later, as the Health Officer and Director of Health for the Bernards Township Health Department, Lucy has risen as one of the leading public health educators in the State of New Jersey and made major contributions to the public’s health on the local, state, and national levels. Her accomplishments are difficult to summarize briefly, so here are some highlights of her remarkable career. Lucy earned her Master of Science degree in Public Health Education from Hunter College in 1982. She is also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and Licensed New Jersey Health Officer. In addition to serving as Health Officer, Lucy also serves as the Health Educator / Youth Services Coordinator for the Township of Bernards where she oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of all community health education services. Lucyhas developed many noteworthy public health interventions during her career, including the “It’s 21 for a Reason” program to prevent underage drinking as well as the first Project Graduation program in the state, which was the impetus for the program to be run in virtually every school district in New Jersey. Lucy has served in many leadership capacities. She initiated the first New Jersey based organization for health educators, the New Jersey Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education and was the first elected president in 1985. Lucy is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the NJSOPHE “Excellence in Health Education” award, the President’s award of the New Jersey Public Health Association and Outstanding Women of Somerset County in Medicine/Health Services award, among others. Lucy went on to become only the third elected female president in the 90-year history of the New Jersey Health Officer’s Association. Based on her genuine commitment and dedication to public service and the public’s health, the faculty of the Department of Public Health selected Lucy Forgione as the first recipient of its “Distinguished Alumna Award” in May 2015. (May, 2015)
