From Huff Hall to national impact: American Lung Association CEO visits his alma mater

When Harold Wimmer returned to the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois, it wasn’t just a professional visit—it was a homecoming shaped by decades of purpose, mentorship and public health leadership.

Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, first walked the halls of what was then the College of Applied Life Studies as a student searching for direction. His visit offered a glimpse into how early moments of uncertainty can evolve into a career leading one of the nation’s most influential health organizations.

“I came into this college because as a freshman, I started in (the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences), more general studies, and I was really trying to find where I would best fit,” said Wimmer, who’s been working with the American Lung Association since 1978, the year he earned his master’s in health administration from the University of Illinois. He also got his undergrad from what is now Applied Health Sciences.

That sense of searching is familiar to many undergraduates. For Wimmer, the turning point came not from a formal advising session, but from a conversation with a roommate. It was a simple nudge—one that ultimately redirected his entire career trajectory.

“And it happened that my roommate was in kinesiology,” he said. “He talked about his experiences and the courses. I certainly had a passion for personal health and community also and working with others, so I came to (AHS) in my sophomore year.” 

The decision to transfer to community health set the foundation for everything that followed.

If Wimmer’s story has a central theme, it is the power of mentorship. During his time at Illinois, he found not only academic rigor but also a network of professors who helped shape his thinking and ambitions.

“I got connected with Tom O’Rourke, Larry Olsen (and) Bill Creswell,” he said, listing faculty members who left a lasting impression. “Those individuals just really impacted me in so many different ways.” 

What stood out wasn’t just their expertise, he said.

“They were also accessible. If you had any issues … their doors were always open. And that’s something that I remember.” 

Wimmer’s academic focus quickly sharpened once he entered the community health curriculum. Courses in epidemiology and population health proved challenging, but transformative.

“I certainly fell in love with the curriculum and the work that’s behind it in terms of community health, public health,” he said. 

He credits those classes with giving him a framework that still underpins his work at the national level.

“They were tough courses, but they were ones that have helped me throughout my career in terms of how to really work through public health … using sound data and epidemiology to help track diseases from the earliest points to a way to treat disease also.” 

That emphasis on data-driven decision-making has become even more critical in today’s public health landscape, where emerging diseases, environmental challenges and health disparities require evidence-based responses.

Wimmer’s path to the American Lung Association began in an unexpectedly local way—with a job posting.

“I was fortunate to come across a job posting that the American Lung Association had in the office here at Huff Hall,” he said. 

At the time, he admits, he didn’t know if he was prepared for the setting.

“I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into going into a nonprofit health organization,” he said. 

But the alignment between his education and the organization’s mission quickly became clear.

“What I studied here really aligned with the work of the American Lung Association,” he said. “The mission … is not only about assisting patients with a lung disease, but it’s also working to prevent lung disease.” 

That dual focus—treatment and prevention—is a hallmark of public health and one that reflects the principles taught in AHS.

Wimmer, who became president and CEO in 2013, oversees a nationwide organization tackling issues ranging from air quality to chronic lung disease. Yet when asked what skills matter most, he doesn’t point first to technical expertise.

Instead, he emphasizes communication.

“One thing that I think is really key in community health or public health is to have good communication skills and to be able to interact with individuals … and also groups,” he said. 

For Wimmer, those skills were nurtured during his time at Illinois, through classroom discussions, group work and faculty mentorship.

During his visit, Wimmer—who met with AHS Dean Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell as well as taking visits to Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Cancer Center at Illinois and the Beckman Institute—also offered practical advice to students eager to make an impact in public health, a field that has gained renewed visibility in recent years.

“I would say really study epidemiology and population data,” he said. “I think [that] is really critical in the field today.” 

But technical knowledge alone isn’t enough. He stressed the importance of understanding diverse communities and advancing health equity.

“Having great communication skills, the ability to communicate with others in really diverse populations … health equity is very important,” he said. 

It’s a message that aligns closely with the college’s current mission—demonstrating how its core values have remained consistent even as the field has evolved.

Like many alumni, Wimmer’s visit also prompted reflection. When asked what advice he would give his younger self, his answer was both practical and revealing.

“I would have probably looked at a minor in finance on the business side,” he said, noting how much of his current role involves budgeting and financial management. 

It’s a reminder that careers in health aren’t confined to science alone—they often require a blend of skills, including leadership, strategy and financial acumen.

He also acknowledged a lingering curiosity about further education.

“I always think I would have liked to continue my education to get a Ph.D.,” he said, before adding with a laugh, “but I think I’m OK where I’m at.” 

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