Arné Burns is passionate about supporting the public health workforce and improving community health across Illinois. She holds a Master of Public Health and dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Health and Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). As Health Education and Training Specialist with the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), she leads statewide professional development initiatives and serves as the primary planner for the Annual Public Health Workforce Conference, helping public health professionals connect, learn, and grow in their careers.

Arné also teaches undergraduate and graduate public health courses at SIUE, sharing her experience and knowledge on topics such as the foundations of community and public health, environmental health, data analysis, and current public health challenges and controversies. She enjoys incorporating real-world examples into the classroom to help students understand how public health works in practice and prepare them to make a positive impact in their communities.

Her background includes nutrition education, community health programming, and research on food insecurity, chronic disease prevention, and mental health. Arné is especially committed to efforts that promote health equity, support community well-being, and create meaningful opportunities for growth in the public health field. Through her teaching, workforce development work, and program leadership, Arné strives to build connections, foster collaboration, and strengthen communities. She is dedicated to empowering both the next generation of public health professionals and those already working to make a difference every day.

 
Outside of work, you can find Arné getting lost in web comics, binge-watching TV and movies, testing her novice baking skills (sometimes perfectly, often delightfully messy), and keeping her bags always packed for her next travel adventure.