NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Public Health Program doctoral student Vinny Black has received a trio of honors this year for his leadership and academic excellence. 

Black was most recently presented the 2026 Health Educator of the Year Award during a ceremony at the 2026 Health Promotion Conference for the Tennessee Department of Health, or TDH, that celebrated leaders from regions across the state.

“I was thoroughly surprised and blown away,” said Black, who works as the state health department’s Healthy Development coordinator for the Mid-Cumberland Region.  “All my work I typically do through health educators and this award was very much a part of the work they are doing across the state.”

Black shows ‘exceptional leadership’

Black, a former health educator for MTSU Student Health Services, was nominated by his regional office for his “exceptional leadership, creativity, and unwavering commitment to improving the health, safety, and well-being of communities.”

Lizzie Harvey, assistant commissioner for the TDH Family, Health and Wellness Division, read highlights from his nomination at the state conference April 28-29 in Franklin.

Black helped garner a grant to promote cycling in Sumner County. In Robertson County, he assisted with securing funding for a middle school’s greenhouse. He played a key part in supporting a feasibility study in the ongoing establishment of a farmers’ market in flood-damaged Humphreys County. He also promotes physical activity among families through various cycling programs across the region.

“His work strengthens not only programs, but the people and partnerships that make long-term community health improvement possible,” Harvey read during the presentation of Black’s award.

His professional interests meet personal goals in areas of research.

“I have great interest in the impact of built environments on health, the social and health effects of walking and biking, and how to prevent heat-related illnesses through good design such as improving shade cover and reduction of asphalt,” said Black, an avid cyclist and outdoor enthusiast.

Additional honors

In addition to Health Educator of the Year, he received Volunteer of the Year Award from the Tennessee Environmental Council for the nonprofit’s tree planting program.

“It’s part of their watershed initiative where they plant trees to shore up waterways at risk for erosion,” explained Black, who planted around 75 trees last year.

His work hits close to his academic home, too.

Black received the Public Health Ph.D. Student of the Year from the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences,which presented the award on campus during a ceremony in April.

“Vinny is highly motivated and passionate about public health and ensuring that we have safe communities to live and work in,” said Angie S. Bowman, graduate program director of public health at MTSU. “His depth of knowledge and passion about safety shine through in his work.”

Notable achievements at MTSU include his “Walk, Bike, Roll” project from one of his classes that he presented at the 2025 Tennessee Public Health Association Conference, and his leadership in producing the inaugural observance on campus of National Public Health Week last year.

What sets Black apart is his willingness to go the extra mile, said Bethany Wrye, interim chair of the Public Health Program.

“It’s so obvious he really and truly cares deeply about the people he’s serving, and you just can’t fake that,” Wrye said.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)