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Barbara A. Lange Memorial Award

A page within Public Health Annual Learning Communities

2026 REGIONAL/STATEWIDE BARBARA A. LANGE MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENT

Lexi Lynn Otis

Lexi Lynn OtisLexi Otis, CHES, is a dedicated public health professional with more than a decade of experience advancing community health through strategic planning, health education, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement. As a Certified Health Education Specialist, she has built a career focused on improving population health outcomes by combining data-driven decision-making with collaborative community action.

Currently serving as a Community Health Educator/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the Manitowoc County Health Department, Lexi leads countywide health assessment and improvement initiatives, coordinating data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts that guide public health priorities. She facilitates community meetings and stakeholder interviews, manages collaborative coalitions, and develops strategic plans and communications that support long-term health improvement goals. In addition, she mentors emerging public health professionals and provides guidance to local and regional partners on community health assessment and planning practices.

Prior to her role in Wisconsin, Lexi served as a Health Extension Agent with Peace Corps Senegal, where she worked closely with communities to address public health challenges through education, training, and behavior change initiatives. Her experience included facilitating malaria prevention and treatment trainings, supporting data collection and community health analysis efforts, and participating in specialized workshops focused on communication strategies for health promotion.

Lexi's earlier professional experience includes serving as a Health Education Specialist with Mercy Medical Center, where she coordinated employee wellness programs, conducted biometric screenings, delivered health education presentations, and developed nutrition and wellness resources for diverse audiences.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Lexi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Physiology in 2016. During her academic career, she served as a Peer Health Educator and practicum student with the University of Iowa Wellness Center, contributing to HIV prevention initiatives and designing health awareness campaigns for college students. She has maintained her Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential since 2016.

Known for her leadership, strategic thinking, and commitment to community well-being, Lexi brings expertise in health assessment, program development, facilitation, data visualization, communications, and public health training. Her work reflects a passion for empowering communities, strengthening partnerships, and creating sustainable improvements in health and quality of life.

First presented in 1995, the Barbara A. Lange Memorial Award in Heath Education & Health Promotion has honored 31 years of distinguished recipients.

31st Annual Barbara A. Lange Memorial Award in Health Education & Health Promotion

Nomination Information

Barbara A. Lange Memorial Award in Health Education & Health Promotion 2026

Deadline for receipt of award nomination of materials:
4 p.m. Central Time, Monday, September 21, 2026

Award Presentation:
October 7, 2026

Barbara A. Lange was an avid public health professional in Wisconsin for 25 years. She served in various responsibilities with the Bureau of Public Health, particularly focusing on health education and health promotion strategies. She was indefatigable in her efforts to promote the health and well-being of the citizenry by encouraging partnerships across the health-related professions. She served with numerous organizations and governing bodies, particularly the Wisconsin School Health Education Coalition, the Wisconsin Public Health Association, and the Wisconsin Health Education Network. She is remembered with respect and admiration by those who knew her.

Three Award Categories:

  1. Local Practitioner Award: Recognition of a deserving individual who focuses their responsibilities at a more local level in addressing all six award criteria.
  2. Regional/Statewide Practitioner Award: Recognition of a deserving individual who has a broader range of influence at the regional or statewide level in addressing all six award criteria.
  3. Special Organizational Award: Recognition of a deserving organization that has furthered the advancement of regional and/or statewide health education and health promotion in Wisconsin thereby advancing the overall population priority of prevention and health improvement through empirically-based strategies and partnerships. 

Six Award Criteria:
(Nominees for this award should exemplify the following attributes)

  • Demonstrates leadership and advocacy for health education and health promotion in Wisconsin.
  • Empowers and supports others to enhance health through educational strategies.
  • Demonstrates a commitment to health education and health promotion.
  • Offers a clearly-articulated vision for the health of the citizenry.
  • Advances the vision and priority of health enhancement through changes in health-related systems.
  • Advances overall the priority of prevention and health improvement.

To Nominate:

  • Nominators are to submit support materials for a nominee in one category only.
  • Support materials must include: (Note: Support material should be no more than 10 pages.)
    • One letter of nomination (may be co-signed)
    • One letter of support (there can be more than one)
    • Resume or vita for the nominee
    • Additional support material (e.g., as appropriate: news articles; significant publications)

Deadline date: 
All materials must be emailed OR postmarked by 4 p.m., September 21, 2026.

Gary D. Gilmore, M.P.H., Ph.D., MCHES
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
418F Wimberly Hall, 1725 State St.
La Crosse, WI 54601

ggilmore@uwlax.edu

Award Subcommittee:

  • Gary D. Gilmore, M.P.H., Ph.D., MCHES, Chair
  • Sheri Siemers, M.P.H., CHES
  • Catherine Sendelbach, M.S., CHES

Questions:

Gary D. Gilmore, M.P.H., Ph.D., MCHES
ggilmore@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8163

Past Recipients

1995 Inaugural Award: Kenneth Baldwin, M.P.H.
1996 Award: Patrick Remington, M.D., M.P.H.
1997 Award: Norman E. McKonly, Jr.
1998 Award: Robert Jecklin, M.P.H.
1999 Award: Susan M. Uttech, M.S., CHES
2000 Award: Chet Bradley, M.S., CHES
2001 Award: Deborah L. Tackmann, M.E.P.D.
2002 Award: Janice M. Winters, RN, B.S.N., M.P.H.
2003 Award: Sheryl L. Gotts, M.S.
2004 Award: James M. Vergeront, M.D.
2005 Regional/Statewide Award: Mary L. Gothard, B.S., CHES
2005 Local Practitioner Award: Lori A. McMillan, M.F.A.
2006 Local Practitioner Award: John E. Mielke, M.D.
2006 Local Practitioner Award: Rebecca Meert, CHES
2007 Regional/Statewide Award: Jon Hisgen, M.S., CHES
2008 Regional/Statewide Award: Mary Pesik, RD, CD, CLE
2008 Local Practitioner Award: Francie A. Peardon
2009 Regional/Statewide Award: James Kazmierczak, D.V.M.
2009 Regional/Statewide Award: Reghan Walsh
2010 Local Practitioner Award: Paula J. Silha, B.S., CHES
2011 Regional/Statewide Award: Brenda L. Rooney, Ph.D., M.P.H.
2012 Regional/Statewide Award: Gary Hollander, Ph.D.
2013 Regional/Statewide Award: Linda A. Lee, M.S., M.P.H.
2013 Local Practitioner Award: Mary P. Rosecky, RN, B.S.N., CHES
2015 Regional/Statewide Award: Sherri Ohly, B.S.S.W.
2015 Regional/Statewide Award: Sheri Siemers, M.P.H., CHES
2015 Local Practitioner Award: Kate Noelke, M.P.H., CHES
2016 Joint Regional/Statewide Award: Millie Jones, M.P.H. and Michael Vaughn, M.S.-HSA
2016 Local Practitioner Award: Amy Olejniczak, M.S., M.P.H.
2017 Regional/Statewide Award: Vicki Huntington, B.A.
2017 Regional/Statewide Award: Nancy Sonnleitner, RHIT, CTR
2017 Regional/Statewide Award: Christy Vogt, M.P.H.
2018 Local Practitioner Award: Aaron Ruff, B.S., CHES
2019 Regional/Statewide Award: Catherine Sendelbach, M.S., CHES
2020 Regional/Statewide Award: Jessica Link Reeve, M.P.H., Dr.PH, MCHES
2020 Local Practitioner Award: Anne M. Kuski-Cirilli, CHES
2021 Local Practitioner Award: Rachel E. King, M.P.H., MCHES
2022 Special Organizational Award: Wisconsin Division of Public Health (honoring all staff members) accepting the Award for the Division was Paula Tran, State Health Officer and Administrator
2023 Special Organizational Award: YWCA Greater Green Bay
2024 Special Organizational Award: Clark County Health Department
2025 Ho-Chunk Nation

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