Dr. Julia VanderMolen, CHES® is an Associate Professor of Public Health, within the School of Interdisciplinary Health at Grand Valley State University. Dr. VanderMolen received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Career and Technical Education from Western Michigan University. She has an M.Ed in Educational Technology from Grand Valley State University, an MA in Health Science from the University of Alabama, and an MS in Biology from Clemson University.

She is a recipient of the 2021 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Inclusive Education, the 2019 Teaching and Learning with Technology Award from Grand Valley State University, the 2014 and 2012 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award winner for online teaching in health and science, and the 2011 Teaching Excellence Award from Davenport University. She received the GLC-SOPHE Honor Award in 2019 for her health promotion and education contributions. She has presented at numerous conferences on assistive technology, disabilities, and workforce development as a social determinant of health. She has expertise in online learning and currently provides expertise to multiple organizations in health literacy, online teaching, and learning.

Dr. VanderMolen teaches the Health Promotion emphasis and undergraduate Public Health Concepts courses. Teaching online is another area of expertise for Dr. VanderMolen as she has taught, designed curriculum, and trained faculty using instructional technologies for the past 24 years.

Her research aims include working with persons with disabilities in public health. Additionally, Dr. VanderMolen’s recent work has included the benefits of workplace accommodations and employment of persons with a disability who are visually impaired, as well as the concept of universal design related to public health and disability policy.

Dr. VanderMolen is a board member for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), Disability Advocates, and the Amputee Coalition Workforce Development. Finally, she is an active member of the Disability section and the Food and Nutrition section of the American Public Health Association (APHA).

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