Meet Jeannie Hannan, PhD, ACSM-HFD
Say hi to Jeannie Hannan, PhD, ACSM-HFD, Certified Wellness Coach, Lifestyle Medicine Coach, Associate Professor and Health Promotion Program Director at Nebraska Methodist College (NMC), one of MFA’s Strategic Partners.
Nebraska Methodist College’s Master of Science in Wellness & Health Promotion Management with a concentration in Medical Fitness Management is the first program in the country and is the first of its kind.
Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) opened in 1891 as a nursing college. The Master of Science in Health Promotion was launched in 1997 with the first graduates in 1999.
Jeannie was first introduced to NMC in 1996 as a student in an undergraduate Health Promotion Specialist Program. She started working full-time at NMC in 1997 as the Coordinator of Health Promotions, in charge of campus wellness for faculty, staff and students. At that time, she was finishing her bachelor’s degree in Management of Human Resources. In addition to working at the College, Jeannie enrolled in the 2nd cohort of the Master of Science in Health Promotion and graduated in 2000. After completion of her master’s degree, she began teaching and coordinating the Health Promotion Specialist Certification program and co-teaching in the master’s program.
Jeannie left the College in 2008 but returned in 2018 as the Director of the Master of Science in Wellness & Health Promotion Management Program and a faculty member in the Doctorate of Education in Healthcare Leadership program. During the 10 years she was away from the College, she was hired to develop and manage a small medical fitness center primarily for older adults.
We caught up with Jeannie recently and here is what she had to say.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy sharing my experience and passion for wellness, health promotion, medical fitness, education and lifestyle medicine with students. With only approximately 9% of American adults having a master’s degree and 2% having a doctorate it is an honor being part of students’ graduate degree journey. I love helping students obtain the knowledge and skills needed to start a new career path, and enhance or move up in their current career. It is very rewarding to see them achieve their dreams and walk across the stage at graduation.
Which innovation from your college do you feel has had the greatest impact on the fitness industry?
Our Master of Science in Wellness & Health Promotion Management program is the first in the country to have a concentration in Medical Fitness Management. In addition to the Wellness & Health Promotion core curriculum, which includes wellness coaching, lifestyle medicine & health behaviors, organizational leadership, human resources and strategic planning, organizational diagnosis and needs assessment, organizational change and accountability and marketing, the program incorporates all nine specific content areas relevant to the operation of medically based fitness centers.
Students will have the opportunity to sit for the Certified Fitness Facility Director (CFFD) exam the day prior to graduation, at no extra cost to them. The Medical Fitness Association has waived the requirement of three years’ experience in a management/leadership position to sit for the exam, for our graduates.
What are you most proud of when you talk about Nebraska Methodist College?
I am proud to work for a College that has amazing core values (caring, excellence, holism, learning and respect) and lives by them every day. We care about our students and put them first.
I am very proud to be the Program Director for the master’s program that I graduated from in 2000! However, I may be most proud to be carrying on the legacy of my mentor who developed the program and was my advisor and teacher.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like spending time with my family, friends, and dogs. I also enjoy Jazzercise classes, crocheting and continuous learning.
Thank you, Jeannie, for taking time out of your crazy busy schedule and for promoting the importance of medical fitness with your students!
