HESC 461, HESC500

Dr. Shari McMahan is Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Science at California State University Fullerton. She received her B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine, and her M.S. degree in Health Science at California State University Northridge. Her Ph.D. dissertation concerned the effects of living near high voltage electrical transmission lines. Her current research emphasizes the health consequences of exposure to a variety of environmental and occupational health stressors, including exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF's). Shari has also researched the public policy implications of legislation such as California's Injury and Illness Prevention Act, proposed national and state ergonomics standards, implications of an aging workforce, and effective modes of risk communication between safety professionals and the public. Shari has served on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is past Chairman on the National AIHA Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation. Shari served as V.P. Health for the Southwest District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in 2001-2002. Shari is currently V.P. Research – for the Southwest District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Shari became a certified health education specialist (C.H.E.S.) in October 1995. She was inducted in 1998 as a Special Advisor for the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Dr. McMahan is also a reviewer for the American Journal of Health Promotion, American Journal of Health Studies and Californian Journal of Health Promotion. She has developed and taught courses in occupational health, health promotion, occupational/ergonomics, personal health, and lifetime fitness.

Dr. McMahan utilizes a social ecological approach in addressing various health problems (obesity, cumulative trauma disorders, heart disease) and focuses on “environmental” approaches to reduce risk .