RELEASE-Morgan's Museum Of Art To Reopen In New Space

The National Center for Health Behavioral Change will be established at Morgan State University with a grant awarded the school by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The grant, according to Dr. Henrie M. Treadwell, senior program director for the foundation, will be used to improve public health curricula, practice competence and community health status.

"Morgan is excited to be on the frontline of public health research and education," says Morgan State University President Earl S. Richardson. "We are very fortunate to have the Kellogg Foundation as a partner in our efforts improve the health of urban population centers across the country."

The $600,000 Kellogg Foundation grant will fund research, some of which will be used to develop training materials and curricula geared toward public health professionals and students. "We hope to be able to bring about improvements in community health by changing people's behavior patterns that have a direct impact on their health," says Morgan State University's Jay Carrington Chunn, associate vice president for academic affairs. "The center will not just do research, it will also bring together some of the best minds in the field. We will use what we know and learn to provide substantive technical assistance to the nation's public health practitioners, schools of public health and others."

Dr. Chunn is editor and co-author of the book, The Health Behavioral Change Imperative: Theory, Education and Practice In Diverse Populations. He points to research showing a prevalent view among the medical profession that at least 90% of the morbidity and mortality rates from many of the diseases afflicting people living in urban areas is preventable. "The need for this center is quite evident," according to Dr. Chunn.

The National Center for Health Behavioral Change is to be located on the campus of Morgan State University. It is the first of its kind in the U.S. and will serve as a model for the rest of the country.

On Thursday, September 26, 2002 at 5:00 p.m., the Morgan family will celebrate the official opening of the center as well as the publication of the new book by Dr Chunn and his co-authors. The ceremony will take place in the new Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center at 2100 Argonne Drive. Dr. Chunn will be available for interviews and to sign copies of his book.

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a coeducational institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor's degrees as well as programs at the master's and doctoral levels. As Maryland's public urban university, Morgan serves a multi-ethnic and multi-racial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information on Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.