Memorial for a Mentor
Posted on December 16, 2016
Scholarship Honors a Beloved Professor
“I feel his spirit is still out there; we teach our students what he taught us.”
—Debra Harris, Alumna, Health Education
Looking back, we can recall outstanding instructors whose passion for their profession and subject matter energized a classroom or auditorium; teachers who could change lives for a lifetime. UNM professor William M. “Bill” Kane, PhD CHES, is held in this high regard by countless former students and colleagues. His dedication to promoting the fields of Public Health and Health Education earned him many honors, and he served as executive director of both the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Association for the Advancement of Health Education.
A firm believer in fighting for social justice and addressing inequalities, especially access to healthcare for disadvantaged populations, Bill also served as a role model and mentor to his students. He engaged and challenged them, instilling within them an appreciation for their significant responsibilities as health educators.
William “Bill” Kane, PhD CHES
Debra Harris met Bill Kane in 1989, when she decided to pursue a PhD with a concentration in Health Education at UNM. The program allowed her to take courses during summer semesters, which fit well with her full-time health and physical education teaching schedule in her home town of Portland, OR. It took nine years to achieve her goal. Bill became her advisor, and in later years an esteemed friend. The last time they met was months before his death in 2007.
Debra’s professional career spans four decades; she still teaches at Oregon Health Sciences University-Portland State University School of Public Health. “I would not be where I am today, if it weren’t for Bill Kane,” she stated. “He was totally student-oriented, and a great listener. He’d let you know he was proud of you, but didn’t sugarcoat any of the realities.”
Inspired by Bill’s supportive influence on students’ professional development and teaching philosophy, Debra recently endowed the William M. Kane Memorial Scholarship at the College of Education. “This is the best way I can honor him,” she remarked. “I feel his spirit is still out there; we teach our students what he taught us.”
