About Us

Michael Haines, Director
8723 River Lane
Kingston, IL. 60145
Email: mhaines@niu.edu, Phone: (815) 751-0624

Michael Haines is a nationally recognized expert in health promotion and social norms. He began his professional career in 1971 as the Executive Director of Health Education and Primary Prevention Services. Mother Sunshine, their street clinic, was selected as the model youth program in Illinois in 1975 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 1982, Michael was asked to develop a health promotion office at Northern Illinois University. He became the coordinator of Health Enhancement Services at NIU and served for 18 years. The program was recognized for innovation and excellence in the areas of sexual health, substance abuse, injury prevention, cold/flu self care, and wellness. The U.S. Office of Education cited this program in 1999 as one of five national exemplary prevention projects. Michael became the Executive Director of the National Social Norms Resource Center in July, 2000. In 2001, the New York Times described Social Norms as one of "80 ideas that shook the world in 2001". He was Senior Consultant to a community coalition that was the first to successfully use social norms to reduce smoking and drinking among high school youth. The program received the 2001 Prevention Award for Illinois.

Michael retired from Northern Illinois University in January, 2008 and now provides consultation and training through Michael Haines & Associates.

1971 – B.S. Philosophy
1975 – M.S. Community Mental Health
1994 – NIU Presidential Award for Excellence
1995 – Elected Fellow to the American College Health Association
1997 - Testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security,
International Affairs and Criminal Justice regarding success of social norm efforts 1998 - Co-chair of the Illinois Attorney General's Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Assault
1999 - Co-chair of the advisory committee for the National College Health Assessment
2000 - Outstanding Service Award at the National Drug Prevention Conference
2008 - Hitchcock Award for Outstanding Service to American College Students (ACHA)

Gregory Barker

Gregory Barker received his doctorate in Cognitive/Research Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1998 and is currently the Director of NIU's Testing Services. Dr. Barker has consulted for a variety of research projects using the social norms approach and social marketing methods to reduce heavy episodic drinking and related injuries. Dr. Barker has acted as a statistical consultant for NIU's Health Enhancement Services, and was a Research Associate for the National Social Norms Resource Center. Dr. Barker has worked as a research and statistical consultant for the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse's Campus Alcohol Task Force, the DeKalb County Partnership for a Safe, Active and Family Environment (DCP/SAFE), the Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education, Miami University, and numerous other research projects at the state and local level.

Laura Cannon

Laura Cannon is the Coordinator of a multi-school social norms project in St. Louis, MO. As Coordinator, she has overseen on-site market research, message development, and media dissemination. She has conducted intercept samplings and focus groups at high schools and participated in parent and faculty training.

Laura has over 20 years experience in development/fundraising and marketing. She recently retired as a partner in the Avant Marketing Group. Avant primarily developed strategic brand planning including the development and implementation of essential marketing communication strategies, brand identity and position based on quantitative and qualitative research in the marketplace.

Community involvement includes:

St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program, Founder and Board President
IMPACT 100 St. Louis – Founding Member, Board Vice President.
Singer Institute/Senior Connections – Past Board President, current Vice President
Bethany Place, Belleville Illinois – Past Board President