Bruce Ragon
While acquiring his Ph.D. in Health Education at Penn State University in 1991 he went on to Indiana University, where in his third year received the Student Choice Award For Outstanding Faculty. Dr. Ragon was a professor of health education at UNCW for four years, during which time he was instrumental in bringing the American School Health Association’s Summer Institute to UNC Wilmington. In 1999 he was named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Service and Extended Education and was later named Assistant to the Provost. After a short tenure as a consultant, Dr Ragon return to the classroom as Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator at Albany State University. At Albany State, Dr Ragon wrote the health education curriculum for the African country of Namibia. Wanting to get closer to family, Dr. Ragon took a teaching position with a poor, rural school in North Carolina where in his first year he was named “Teacher of the Year.” However, after serving only one year, Dr. Ragon was offered and accepted the position as Director of Health Education at Virginia Tech University. The department designs, develops, and implements programs to assist students in addressing a variety of health education issues, especially students working to overcome the tragedy of 4/16. Within 5 months, Virginia Tech Health Education received one of the largest contributions ever made to Student Affairs at the university. Dr Ragon became a faculty member at Walden in 2007 and teaches in the School of Health Sciences. Dr. Ragon has been with Walden for over 15 years and is a faculty member in the Master of Public Health program. In 2022 he was honored with the Faculty Excellence Award for the College of Health Sciences and Public Policy at Walden University.
Courses Taught
PUBH 6030/8030 - Health Behavior Theory
PUBH 6638/6639 - MPH Practicum courses
PUBH 6005 - Perspectives on Health
Education
PhD, Penn State University
MA, Kent State University
Public Service
Toastmasters; Port City affiliate, President - Wilmington
Awards / Honors
Student Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1994
Teacher of the Year, Acme Delco Middle School, Columbus County Schools, NC, 2007
Citizens Commendation, Dayton Police Department, Dayton, OH., 1976
Publications
Ragon, B. M. (2005). Natural Science and Health: Grade 5.
Ragon, B., Mouzon, L. (1999). Attitudes and beliefs of adolescents toward the use of tobacco: A 16 year follow-up. International Electronic Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B., Perko, M., Peel, J. (1998). A retrospective study of secondary school HIV/AIDS education by North Carolina college students. North Carolina Journal
Ruggles, D., McCowen, M., Ragon, B., Kittleson, M. (1998). Assessing educational administrators' knowledge about HIV infection. International Electronic Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B., Nall, J. (1998). Improving the success of health education proposals. International Electronic Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B. (1998). Would I lie to you honey: Exploring adolescent sexual pressures. Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B. M., Bennett, J. P. (1996). Something more to consider: Combining Health Education and Physical Education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Ragon, B. (1996). Countering Objections to Health Promotion Programming: The Objection/Rebuttal Approach. Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B., Marquart, J., Collins, C. (1995). A class at the Improv.: Using improvisation as a health education teaching technique. Journal of Health Education
Ragon, B., Kittleson, M. (1994). Storyboarding: A program planning tool for health education. Wellness Perspectives
Ragon, B., Kittleson, M.J., & St., Pierre, R. (1994). The effect of a single affective HIV/AIDS educational program on college students knowledge and attitudes. AIDS Education and Prevention
Kittleson, M., Ragon, B. (1993). A behavior change teaching approach. Wellness Perspectives
Ragon, B. (1993). Developing Effective Communication With Media: Strategies For Health Education. Wellness Perspectives
Kittleson, M., Ragon, B., Venglarcik, J. (1993). Assessment of medical students knowledge of HIV transmission: Gender, residence, and training level comparisons. Southern Medical Journal
Ragon, B. M., Biasiotto, J., Campbell, W. (2004). Personal Health: A Guidebook to Wellness.
Ragon, B. M., , J. (2005). The Truth About Drugs. Fact or Fiction health series.
Ragon, B. M., Peel, J., Combs, C. (1996). A Guidebook to Well-being.
Presentations
Ragon, B. M. (2008). Building Champions in Your Organization. American College Health Association Southern Region
Ragon, B. M. (2008). Building Champions in Your Organization. North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Ragon, B. M., , M., , P., , K. (1992). Assessment of the effectiveness of a safer sex kit. American Public Health Association