Ian M. Newman

Wesley C. Meierhenry Distinguished Professor
Professor Emeritus, Ian M. Newman, PhD,
University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Born: Wellington, New Zealand, 1941.
Died: Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2022.

Memorial Service

Ian Newman Memorial Service from First-Plymouth Church on Vimeo.

A memorial service was held at 4:00 p.m. United States Central Standard Time, on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at First Plymouth Church, 2000 D Street, Lincoln Nebraska, United States. A recording of Ian’s memorial service is available online at https://vimeo.com/675637709. 

Obituary

Ian M. Newman, 81, of Lincoln died Friday, February 4, 2022. Born January 12, 1941, in Wellington, New Zealand to Stan and Grace (Wilton) Newman. Ian grew up in Palmerston North, attended Palmerston North Boys High School where he was the head prefect and captain of the rugby team. He left home at age 18 accepting a scholarship to George Williams College in Chicago, now Aurora University. While in Chicago, Ian met Enid Hosein, originally of Trinidad and Tobago, at a church dance. They married in 1964.

Ian earned bachelor and master degrees from George Williams College before moving on to the University of Illinois where he earned his PhD. His post-doctoral studies took place at Harvard School of Public Health. He later joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee working at the Oakridge National Laboratory. Two years later, he joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska, where he taught and conducted research for over 50 years.

His primary areas of focus included adolescent health, health education and public health. He was loved by his graduate students for his caring, mentoring and interest in their backgrounds; many remain friends today. While at Nebraska, he took a 2-year leave to join the World Health Organization and was stationed in New Delhi, India. He served in Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In 1997, Ian was named the Wesley C. Meierhenry Distinguished Professor by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Ian possessed an unquenchable desire for intellectual and cultural adventure. His personal and professional life took him to more than 83 countries and territories around the world where he always made a point to learn local customs and understand people’s traditions, including a hearty appetite for local cuisine and delicacies.

Ian and Enid were well known for their ballroom and folk dancing. They were members of the UNL Faculty Dance Club and International Folk Dancers.

Family members include his wife of over 55 years, Enid; sons and daughter-in-law, Sean Newman, Brian (Johanna) Newman, Stuart Newman; Grandchildren, Sophia, Ethan and Hannah; Great Grandchildren, Brennan and Everet; and Nieces and Nephews. Ian is preceded in death by his parents and sister Cathrine.

Memorial Service 4:00 PM Saturday (2-12-2022) at First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D Street. Livestream found at roperandsons.com/livestream. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Lincoln Food Bank. Condolences online at roperandsons.com

Education

• Palmerston North Boys’ High School
• B. S. George Williams College of Aurora University Illinois. 1963.
• M.S. “With Honor”) George Williams College of Aurora University, Illinois, 1964.
• Ph.D. University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1968.
• (Post Doc.) Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, 1970.

Employment

• 1966-68 Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology and Health Education, George Williams College, Downers Grove, Illinois.
• 1968-70 Assistant Professor, Public Health Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
• 1969-70 Consultant, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Oak Ridge National Lab, Civil Defense Research Project—Urban Decentralization Task Force.
• 1970-72 Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
• 1972-74 Health Education Specialist and Acting Regional Advisor (health education), World Health Organization, Southeast Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India.
• 1974-78 Associate Professor, Department of Medical and Educational Administration, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
• 1978-79 World Health Organization consultant to the Government of the Philippines.
• 1978-85 Director, Nebraska Alcohol and Drug Information Clearinghouse.
• 1978-2017 Professor, Health Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• 1980 Visiting Education Fellow, Department of Education, New Zealand.
• 1982-86 Director, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• 1992-1998 Visiting Lecturer in Master of Medicine Program, School of Post-Graduate Medical Studies, National University of Singapore.
• 2003-2004 Visiting Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mahidol at Salaya, Bangkok, Thailand.
• 1979- 2019 Director, Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• 2002-2017 Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 2006-2017 Director, Nebraska Collegiate Consortium to Reduce High Risk Drinking.
• 2012-2015 American Deputy Director, American Exchange Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China.
• 2017 Professor Emeritus University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Honors and Awards

• American Academy of Health Behavior (Fellow)
• American School Health Association (Fellow)
• Society for Applied Anthropology (Fellow)
• 2001 Special citation from the Minister of Health of the Semi-Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia (People’s Republic of China) for contributions to the advancement of public health.
• 1986 Distinguished Service Award, American School Health Association.
• 1987 Third Annual Research Award, American School Health Association.
• 1988 First Place—Substance Abuse Video “Resisting Pressures to Drink and Drive” (Ian M. Newman, Executive Producer), Institute of Creative Research and The Sport Art Academy (NASPE).
• 1994 Best Educational Achievement Award (Nebbie) for Resisting Pressures, Ian Newman, Executive Producer, ZIPF Institutes Interactive ’94 Conference and Exposition, San Jose, California, June 6.
• 1994 Buckle Up America Award for Get It On, Safety Belt Curriculum, Ian Newman, American Coalition for Traffic Safety, Washington, DC.
• 1995 First Place (Substance Abuse Category) for Resisting Pressures, Ian Newman, Executive Director, 8th Annual AAHPERD Video Contest.
• 1993 Distinguished Service Award, Nebraska Public Health Association.
• 1997 Wesley C. Meierhenry Distinguished Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• 1998 Distinguished Alumni Award, George Williams College of Aurora University.
• 2006 The Robert D. Sparks MD Award in Public Health & Preventive Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 2008 The Dermot Coyne Exemplary Service to International Students Award by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Non-Academic Positions

• 1978-2016 President, Health Education, Inc., a nonprofit health education, service, and research corporation in Lincoln, Nebraska.
• 1990-present President, The Buffalo Beach Company, a health education research and consulting group in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Selected Publications