devon tapp

Dr. Devon Tapp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Delaware and Director of the Health Coaching Program. She earned her Doctor of Health Science in Population Health from Thomas Jefferson University, her Master of Science in Health Promotion from the University of Delaware, and holds board certification as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Dr. Tapp’s professional experience spans higher education, healthcare systems, and professional sports, including roles at Stockton University, NYU Langone Health, and the National Football League. Her work focuses on chronic disease prevention and management, tobacco cessation, population health strategy, and health coaching education. Dr. Tapp has led state and nationally funded initiatives supporting tobacco cessation, mental health promotion, and healthcare access for underserved student populations. She was awarded a dissertation distinction for her research on tobacco policy implementation and the sustainability of smoke-free campus initiatives. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing health equity, strengthening institutional policy implementation, and designing evidence based behavioral interventions that create measurable community impact. Her teaching and scholarship are grounded in health behavior theory, socioecological frameworks, and applied workforce development in health promotion and wellness. A former Division I women’s rowing student athlete at the University of Delaware, Dr. Tapp remains a proud supporter of the Blue Hens rowing program and is deeply committed to student development both inside and outside the classroom.

Courses

• HBNS155: Personal Health Management
• HBNS430: Behavior Change Strategies and Tactics
• HBNS625: Chronic Disease Management 
• HBNS633: Health Coaching

Research Interests

• Culturally Responsive Health Coaching Practices
• Chronic Disease Prevention
• Health Behavior Theory
• Population Health Program Evaluation

Affiliations

• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
• National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching
• American Public Health Association
• American Diabetes Association
• American College Health Association