Uploaded November 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Video of the presentation of the 2013 Lorin Kerr Award to Sharon D. Beard, MS, at the Annual Awards Luncheon of the Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) on November 5, 2013 at the APHA Annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. This award recognizes a younger activist for their sustained and outstanding efforts and dedication to improve the lives of workers. Since coming to National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WTEP) almost twenty years ago, Sharon has distinguished herself by overcoming ever increasing challenges in the administration of the NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program. She has worked effectively as an enthusiastic promoter and creator of worker safety training partnerships with many other key federal agencies such as EPA, OSHA NIOSH, HUD and DOE. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with minor in Business from Western Carolina University, Mrs. Beard worked in the Environmental Restoration and Industrial Hygiene & Safety Departments at Westinghouse Savannah River Company at the DOE Savannah River Site in SC as a Health and Safety Professional/Analyst. Mrs. Beard also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management/Engineering from Tufts University, Medford, MA. She has actively pursued numerous training opportunities and professional certifications within the industrial hygiene field, occupational health and safety, grants management and contract administration, and computer software applications. During her tenure with NIEHS, she has provided critical leadership in designing an innovative effort to provide training opportunities to disadvantaged and minority individuals for participation in the environmental cleanup process. Sharon has successfully navigated a complicated program development process with multiple stakeholders and intractable training challenges to create an innovative and highly regarded Minority Worker Training Program. Mrs. Beard has exhibited a tireless dedication to serving low income workers in highly hazardous occupations. Sharon has also continued as a key federal player in the national environmental justice movement for almost two decades. She has been an essential member of the HHS Working Group on Environmental Justice, carrying out innovative programming across the Department of Health and Human Services. She has broadened her understanding of the dynamics of working within HHS regarding health disparities and environmental justice by working closely with key local and state EJ advocacy organizations. Sharon was nominated by Chip Hughes. Background on the Lorin Kerr Award - Lorin Kerr (1909 -1991) was a life-long activist and served for over 40 years as a physician for the United Mine Workers. He was dedicated to improving access to health care for coal miners and other workers and to obtaining compensation for and preventing black lung disease. This award recognizes a younger activist for their sustained and outstanding efforts and dedication to improve the lives of workers.
Video of the presentation of the 2013 Lorin Kerr Award to Sharon D. Beard, MS, at the Annual Awards Luncheon of the Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) on November 5, 2013 at the APHA Annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. This award recognizes a younger activist for their sustained and outstanding efforts and dedication to improve the lives of workers. Since coming to National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WTEP) almost twenty years ago, Sharon has distinguished herself by overcoming ever increasing challenges in the administration of the NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program. She has worked effectively as an enthusiastic promoter and creator of worker safety training partnerships with many other key federal agencies such as EPA, OSHA NIOSH, HUD and DOE. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with minor in Business from Western Carolina University, Mrs. Beard worked in the Environmental Restoration and Industrial Hygiene & Safety Departments at Westinghouse Savannah River Company at the DOE Savannah River Site in SC as a Health and Safety Professional/Analyst. Mrs. Beard also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management/Engineering from Tufts University, Medford, MA. She has actively pursued numerous training opportunities and professional certifications within the industrial hygiene field, occupational health and safety, grants management and contract administration, and computer software applications. During her tenure with NIEHS, she has provided critical leadership in designing an innovative effort to provide training opportunities to disadvantaged and minority individuals for participation in the environmental cleanup process. Sharon has successfully navigated a complicated program development process with multiple stakeholders and intractable training challenges to create an innovative and highly regarded Minority Worker Training Program. Mrs. Beard has exhibited a tireless dedication to serving low income workers in highly hazardous occupations. Sharon has also continued as a key federal player in the national environmental justice movement for almost two decades. She has been an essential member of the HHS Working Group on Environmental Justice, carrying out innovative programming across the Department of Health and Human Services. She has broadened her understanding of the dynamics of working within HHS regarding health disparities and environmental justice by working closely with key local and state EJ advocacy organizations. Sharon was nominated by Chip Hughes. Background on the Lorin Kerr Award - Lorin Kerr (1909 -1991) was a life-long activist and served for over 40 years as a physician for the United Mine Workers. He was dedicated to improving access to health care for coal miners and other workers and to obtaining compensation for and preventing black lung disease. This award recognizes a younger activist for their sustained and outstanding efforts and dedication to improve the lives of workers.
