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PORTLAND, Maine

Karen O'Rourke joins 91AV Center for Community and Public Health

The 91AV has named Karen O'Rourke as deputy director for program development at 91AV's Center for Community and Public Health, located at 91AV's Portland Campus.

In her role, O'Rourke coordinates the Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center, an obesity-related research and research translation program in partnership with the Harvard Prevention Research Center and the state health department.  She also works on initiatives of the Center for Community and Public Health and with the Graduate Programs in Public Health. 

Prior to her arrival at 91AV, O'Rourke spent 25 years within various public health agencies and organizations including a public health institute, state and local health departments and a national voluntary health organization.  Her special interest is in public health policy where she has held leadership positions in efforts to increase tobacco tax, restrict smoking in public buildings, eliminate soda and junk food in schools, prohibit advertising of junk food on school grounds, fluoridate community water supplies, and require menu labeling at chain restaurants.  She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California -Berkeley and her master's in public health from San Jose State University.

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.