The , interim chair of the and distinguished university health professor, has been selected to serve on the Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).
The committee provides guidance to ASPPH on legislative and regulatory issues that impact academic public health and helps strengthen the voice of schools and programs of public health in national policy discussions.
“Based on my years of working in public health advocacy and working to create change, being selected for this advisory committee means a very great deal to me,” Liller said. “It will allow me to bring what I have learned and experienced over the years to ASPPH in terms of working with legislative and regulatory issues impacting academic public health.”
According to Liller, the committee plays an important role in helping the academic public health community stay engaged in policy conversations that shape the field.
“The ASPPH Advocacy Advisory Committee guides ASPPH on those legislative and regulatory issues that really impact work in academic public health,” she said. “It will be an empowering source for influencing policy and supporting the academic community’s voice.”
Liller brings decades of experience in public health advocacy, research and leadership to the position. She also played a role in the process that led to the passage of ۴ý’s Bicycle Helmet Law.
“As a child and adolescent injury prevention scientist, I learned very early on how important laws, regulations and policies were to decreasing injury-related morbidity and mortality of children and young adults — and for that matter everyone,” she said. “Countless lives are saved each year through strong and enforced transportation, consumer product, firearm, workplace and other laws.”
Beyond research and policy work, Liller has focused on helping students develop advocacy and leadership skills. While serving as dean of the USF Office of Graduate Studies for the USF System, she established the . After returning to the COPH, she launched the in 2018, an initiative that has helped hundreds of students strengthen their advocacy and leadership abilities.
“Building and guiding the Activist Lab, continuing with my own advocacy and developing the undergraduate and graduate course Advocacy 101 has allowed me to further hone these skills to be shared with others—especially students and others in academic settings,” Liller said. “Advocacy is built upon a science and therefore needs to be taught as such in terms of its theory and practice.”
Liller emphasized that advocacy remains a critical component of public health progress.
“Our greatest successes in public health had major advocacy efforts and students need to learn these skills to be successful and to further public health’s important role in society,” she said. “What I have learned is that one should never underestimate the role of advocacy and policy in public health.”
Liller said she looks forward to contributing to the committee’s work and continuing her long-standing involvement with ASPPH.
“I have had the honor to be affiliated with ASPPH for many years,” she said. “In all the roles I have had with them, I am truly looking forward to serving on this Advocacy Advisory Committee to help bring about real and lasting change.”