Member Spotlight - February, 2026

Laurie Larkin, BSPH, MPH
Associate Professor - Eastern Kentucky University

Introduction
I have served for the past 4 years on the KPHA Board of Directors.

Professional Background
Laurie received her undergraduate degrees in Physical Education and Health Education from UW-River Falls, her master's degree in Exercise Physiology from UW-La Crosse, and her PhD in Health Promotion from Purdue University. Dr. Larkin has over 36 years of college and university experience teaching at EKU (25 years), Berea College (4 years), Purdue University (5 years) and the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse (2 years). Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Public Health at EKU teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in Public Health. Dr. Larkin has taught Research Methods for 16 years and assisted over 100 graduate students on completing their research projects of which over 90 have presented at KPHA, APHA, KY SHAPE, or SHAPE America.

KPHA Involvement
I have served the past 4 years on the KPHA Board of Directors and the past 2 years on the KPHA Annual Conference Committee. I have mentored over 80 student KPHA research presentations and personally presented 3 oral sessions for KPHA.

Personal Insights:
I have learned that the most important thing that I do every day at work is getting to know and help my students. The relationships I develop with my students are much more valuable to them than the information I teach. I believe that students ultimately don't care about what I know as a professor, but that I care about them as people.

Accomplishments & Recognition
Laurie has received several teaching awards including the 2015 Southern District College/University Health Education Professional of the Year Southern District of SHAPE America (formally the Southern District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance), the 2014 Kentucky College/University Health Education Teacher of the Year Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (KAHPERD), and 11 other university teaching recognitions. In regard to research, Dr. Larkin has received 6 KPHA BECKY awards, and 3 KPHA Student Research Awards in the past 10 years.

KPHA & Public Health in the Future
My hope for the future of Public Health will be a greater shift toward prevention of diseases and individual responsibility. With increasing healthcare costs, I would love to see national and state trends requiring mandatory K-12 school health interventions and efforts to teach and influence kids how to live a healthier life choosing better nutrition, daily exercise, sexual abstinence, and drug avoidance.

Personal Interests, Hobbies, Future Goals/Aspirations
Laurie loves spending time with her husband Jim (also a professor at EKU) of 34 years, two sons (Luke, 25 and Steve, 23), and two daughters-in-law (Abby and Megan). Her favorite hobbies include playing tennis throughout the year on 6-8 different USTA tennis teams out of Lexington, competing in pickleball tournaments, running, and lifting weights. Her future goals are to retire in the next 7 years and hopefully be a grandma soon.

Advice & Tips
Belonging to KPHA is crucial for all Public Health professionals. When attending the annual conference, I tell my students to make the effort to introduce themselves to other professionals and get to know them personally. I cannot tell you how many of my past students who have made these connections during the KPHA conferences that have later led to future job and networking opportunities.