FEATURED AUTHOR

David Scott Anderson

Professor of Education and Human Development
George Mason University

David Anderson’s work emphasizes positive, practical approaches for addressing wellness, health promotion and drug/alcohol abuse prevention with young adults and youth. He has distinguished himself as a researcher, program developer, and a forward thinker, with an applied emphasis on that addresses leadership and strategic planning. As Director of George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Public Health, his 180 grants and projects emphasize “the campus in the community.”

Subjects: Communication Studies, Education, Health and Social Care

Biography

David Anderson, Ph.D. serves as a Professor and Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Health, School of Recreation, Health and Tourism, College of Education and Human Development, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He serves as project director and researcher on numerous national, state and local projects, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on drug and alcohol issues, community health, and health communications; conducts needs assessments; prepares evaluation and analysis; and assists with strategic planning.  His work emphasizes college students, youth, school and community leaders, program planners, and policy makers.   Specialty areas include drug/alcohol abuse prevention, strategic planning and mobilization, communication and education, health promotion, and needs assessment and evaluation.   He has produced, moderated or served as a guest on several television programs and has produced several multi-media resources.

His research includes the College Alcohol Survey (1979-2015), the nation’s longitudinal assessment of alcohol, drug, tobacco, violence and related issues on four-year campuses.  He co-directed the Understanding Teen Drinking Cultures in America research project, with attention to high school youth decisions to use or not use alcohol.  He edited Wellness Issues for Higher Education (Routledge, 2015) and is currently editing a second volume (2016). He produced COMPASS: A Roadmap to Healthy Living, and COMPASS Roadmap: Destination Health, both focusing on a positive approach to wellness choices among college students.  He authored the IMPACT Evaluation Resource for the NCAA; this manual highlights information, resources and materials for strategic planning, needs assessment and program monitoring for college and university leaders.  Also for the NCAA, he produced Best of CHOICES: Alcohol Education 1998-2008, complete with case studies, key program elements, and sample strategies; this incorporates a searchable database and videotaped vignettes from campus leaders.  He co-directed Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies from 1994 – 2001, with its three primary products distributed nationwide (Sourcebook 2001, Action Planner, and Task Force Planner).  He co-authors the Wellness Assessment for Higher Education Preparation Programs and also co-authors the Student Affairs Professionals Wellness Assessment.  He chairs the Virginia College Alcohol Leadership Council, a consortium of college and universities in the state.

Early in his career, he served as a student affairs administrator, with positions as Director of Residence Life at Ohio University, Director of Residential Life at Radford University, and Residence Hall Director at The Ohio State University.    He received his Bachelors Degree from Duke University, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration.  His Masters Degree, from The Ohio State University, is in Student Personnel Administration.  His Ph.D. in Public Policy/Public Affairs is from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

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