Lauri DeRuiter-Willems, Assistant Professor and Honors Coordinator in the Department of Public Health at Eastern Illinois University has been teaching health promotion, marketing and communications courses since 2007. Previously, DeRuiter-Willems worked as a consultant in Chicago, IL, serving private, commercial and government clients in health, fitness and wellness. DeRuiter-Willems presented on many occasions to these clients and patrons on a wide range of topics. After joining EIU, she has presented to local school wellness and faculty in-service programs, and Regional Office of Education workshops. Her degrees include B.S. in Physical Education /English, EIU 1986; M.S. in Health/Fitness Management/Marketing, University of North Texas 1988; Dietetics at EIU 2011, and PhD, Indiana State University, Spring 2018.