Craig Becker

Craig Becker serves as a Professor in the Health Education and Promotion department within the College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University. His office is located in the Carol Belk Building (3201), and he can be contacted at beckerc@ecu.edu or by phone at 252-328-5312. With a career spanning multiple decades, Dr. Becker has established himself as a leading researcher in salutogenic approaches to health and wellness promotion.

Becker's research program centers on the development, validation, and application of the Salutogenic Wellness Promotion Scale (SWPS) across diverse populations including college students, older adults, and Arabic-speaking communities. His work challenges traditional disease-prevention paradigms by advocating for chronic wellness creation through innovative theoretical frameworks like the Tree Model for Public Health. His scholarship bridges health education theory with practical applications in tobacco control policy, student wellness initiatives, and health promotion program evaluation.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a clear trajectory from tobacco control policy research toward comprehensive wellness frameworks. His most recent work focuses on digital health solutions (mHealth), brief wellness assessment tools (SWPS-SF), and the intersection of academic performance with health behaviors. A consistent theme throughout his career is the development and validation of measurement tools that capture positive health constructs rather than merely risk factors.

Dr. Becker has successfully secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator from sources including i-Corps, ECU Intramural funds, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for projects such as the Tobacco-Free Campus initiatives and digital health coaching development. His service contributions include journal reviewing for the Journal of American College Health and TQM Journal, chairing the Academic Integration Working Group at the App Energy Summit (2022-2024), and serving as a Trustee for the National Wellness Association.