Our Campus Our Health

Our Campus, Our Health engages students and an interdisciplinary team of faculty in the implementation of a biennial college health behavior assessment. Faculty serve as content experts for the survey and work with students to develop research questions, conduct analyses, and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences.

This transformational learning opportunity teaches basic research methodology to grow the next generation of scholars. The initiative has been supported by internal funding aimed at broadening students’ intellectual experience and positively supporting their personal and professional growth.

The web-based health behavior assessment is adapted from the Centers for Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. The IRB approved survey is delivered every two years in the fall semester after pilot testing, cognitive interviewing, and review from a panel of content experts.

Research Team

Julie Merten
Skin Cancer and Sun Safety

Kassie Terrell
Mental and Emotional Health

Rob Zeglin
Mental and Emotional Health

Kristen K. Roof
Nutrition and Food Security

Elissa Barr
Sexual Health

Deb Owen
Alcohol and Drug Use

Jessica King
Wake Forest University
Tobacco Use

Sinyoung Park
Access to Healthcare

Select Publications and Presentations

Merten, J. W., King, J. L., & Largo-Wight, E. (2017). Research letter: Total body skin examination adherence among young adults with an increased risk for skin cancer. Dermatology Online Journal, 23(6), 22-23. doi:_35401http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4sd7h2dn

Merten, J. W., King, J. L., Vilaro, M. J., & Largo-Wight, E. (2016). Lifestyle factors associated with sunscreen use among young adults. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, doi:10.1007/s13187-016-1093-3 

Osagiede, O., Ayers, E., & Merten, J. W. (2016, April). The impact of social media use on health behavior among college students. Poster presented at UNF Symposium of Graduate Student Research, Jacksonville, FL 

Merten, J. W. (2015). Skin cancer prevention behaviors among Northeast Florida college students. Florida Public Health Review, 12, 23-30. Retrieved from http://www.ut.edu/floridapublichealthreview/

Merten, J. W. & Johnson, D. (2014). Our campus, our health: A model for undergraduate health education research engagement. Journal of Health Education Teaching, 5(1), 14-19. 

Merten, J.W & Pomeranz, J.L. (2014, April). An examination of skin cancer prevention behaviors among college students. Poster presented at the University of Florida Public Health and Health Professions Research Day, Gainesville, FL 

Leavel, V., Bosco, E., & Merten, J.W. (2014, March). An examination of health risk factors among college students majoring in health and those majoring in other fields. Poster presented at the 14th Annual American Academy of Health Behavior Meeting, Charleston, SC

Merten, J.W. (2013, April). Our campus, our health: A model for media campaigns. Poster presented at the Research Consortium at American Association of Health Education Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC 

Merten, J.W., Ntiti, B., Castillo, R., Smith, J., Haddad, L., & Kantor, J., (2012, April). Our campus, our health: Results from a student-led Health assessment. Oral presentation at the Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium, Jacksonville, FL

Williams, A.N., Chadwick, S.L., & Merten, J.W. (2011, April). Our campus, our health: Developing a college health assessment. Poster Presented at Annual Florida Statewide Student Research Symposium, Jacksonville, FL