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Essential Health iii
Catherine Sanderson is the James E. Ostendarp Professor of Psychology at Amherst College,
Amherst, Massachusetts. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a specialization in
health and development, from Stanford University, and received both a master’s and a doctoral
degree in psychology from Princeton University. Professor Sanderson’s research examines how
personality and social variables infl uence health-related behaviors, such as safer sex and disor-
dered eating. She also studies the development of persuasive messages, interventions to prevent
unhealthy behavior, and the predictors of relationship satisfaction. Professor Sanderson’s research
has received grant funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of
Health. She has published over 25 journal articles and book chapters in addition to three college
textbooks and a popular-press book on parenting. In 2012, she was named one of the country’s
top 300 professors by the Princeton Review.
Mark Zelman is an Associate Professor of Biology at Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois. He
received a bachelor’s degree in biology at Rockford College, with minors in chemistry and psy-
chology. He received a PhD in microbiology and immunology at Loyola University of Chicago,
where he studied the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autoimmune disease. During his
postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago, he studied aspects of cell physiology pertain-
ing to cell growth and cancer. Dr. Zelman supervises undergraduate research on streptococcal
and staphylococcal infections, and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. He also teaches in the
science education graduate program for biology and chemistry high school teachers. He has pub-
lished articles on microbiology, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, and biotechnology, and
he has written two college texts on human diseases and infection control. Dr. Zelman is an offi cer
of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences.
Pedagogy Developers
Melanie Lynch is vice president of Health Education for Pennsylvania State Association for
Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD) and has been a health education
specialist at State College Area High School, State College, Pennsylvania, for the past 19 years.
She attended Penn State University and received a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science
with a teaching emphasis and a master of education. In 2004, Melanie received Pennsylvania’s
Health Teacher of the Year Award from PSAHPERD. She is also the recipient of the Eastern District
Health Teacher of the Year Award from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE
America), which was formerly AAHPERD, and Pennsylvania’s Professional Honor Award from
PSAHPERD. Melanie has trained hundreds of teachers as a Health Education Assessment Project
(HEAP) trainer for the state of Pennsylvania.
Melissa Munsell is an instructional specialist in the Physical Education and Health Depart-
ment at North East Independent School District, in San Antonio, Texas, and serves as the K-12
Health Education Lead for the district. Melissa received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from
The University of Texas at Austin and is certifi ed to teach Physical Education K–12 and Health
Education 6–12, among other endorsements, in the state of Texas. She has 21 years of teaching and
administrative experience, with six of those years teaching health education at the high school
level. She has also served as vice president of the Health Division of the Texas Association for
Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (TAHPERD), and presents workshops and
lectures on various health topics locally and statewide.
About the Authors