Health and Human Services News

Mercy gift completes transformation of Mo State’s Kampeter Hall

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Missouri State University’s McQueary College of Health and Human Services celebrated the opening of the Mercy Athletic Training Lab on Sept. 9.

The facility is part of the completed Phase II of the renovations inside Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall and was made possible by a donation from Mercy.

This transformed space allows for an immersive learning environment. It gives athletic training students greater opportunities to learn, practice and prepare for their future careers.

In total, the renovations to the academic building at Cherry Street and Kimbrough Avenue took six years, with a two-year gap between the major phases. Missouri State dedicated Phase I in 2022.

“We’re deeply grateful to Mercy for this gift. Their investment reflects exactly the kind of partnership that moves Missouri State forward,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement. “Our athletic training students are now learning in a space built for real-world success, and that benefits the entire Springfield community they’ll one day serve.”

Read more about the milestone on the News blog.

A prestigious Theta Chi honor for Mo State student

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Carlos Abrams of Missouri State University’s Iota Beta chapter has earned Theta Chi Fraternity’s highest collegiate honor for his outstanding service to the university, fraternity and community.

He received the 2025-26 Reginald E.F. Colley Award at the Theta Chi Fraternity’s 170th Anniversary Convention on July 11 in San Antonio, Texas. First presented in 1929, the award is named for Colley, a World War I veteran and past member of Theta Chi’s board of directors, the Grand Chapter. As a member of Phi Chapter, Colley developed a celebrated reputation as a campus, community and civic leader.

Abrams, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in human resource management, stood out among over 9,000 collegians across North America.

“Receiving this award is a true honor. I see it as a reflection of the people, experiences and opportunities I’ve been blessed with here at Missouri State,” said Abrams, a native of Willard, Missouri.

Read more about Abrams’ achievement on the News blog.

Welcome new faculty and staff

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This year, McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) welcomed 26 new faculty and staff members.

“Their expertise and unique perspectives will strengthen our academic community and advance our shared mission,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “I look forward to the many contributions they’ll make.”

Who they are

The new faculty and staff are joining various schools and departments in MCHHS:

School of Health Care Professions

School of Health Sciences

School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences

School of Nursing

Ozarks Public Health Institute

MCHHS Administration

Explore MCHHS

Counseling without borders

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A learning experience in Cologne, Germany, is anything but ordinary.

Five Missouri State University counseling students traveled there this summer to attend the Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (PCE) Conference. Faculty member Dr. Yasuko Kanamori and Dr. Jeffrey Cornelius-White, distinguished professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, led the group from July 5-13.

At the conference, Cornelius-White delivered a keynote on AI and its benefits, risks and the opportunities it creates for practitioners and patients.

Expanding perspectives

The goal of the trip was to give counseling students cultural experiences that deepen their understanding of communication and how to approach different situations.

Castle in Germany
Schloss Drachenburg in Königswinter, Germany.

“A problem and its solution are best understood from multiple perspectives, and this experience gives students the opportunity to see healthcare and counseling through a different cultural lens,” Cornelius-White said.

Once the PCE conference began on July 6, students met people from around the world in the counseling profession and learned about practices in their home countries.

“It was nice to see that many of the challenges they face are also challenges for us,” said graduate counseling student Yasmin McPoil.

This year’s conference, themed “A Changing World: What It Does with Us and What We Do with It” focused on AI and sustainability. With almost 500 delegates from about 35 countries, the students had plenty of opportunities to build connections, according to Cornelius-White.

They talked with professionals during breaks, attended workshops and joined in community encounter groups. They also heard keynote speakers address topics, such as climate crisis, social injustice, AI and experiential-existential psychotherapy.

The experience influenced how students see their future careers as counselors.

“It strengthened my commitment to becoming a future clinical mental health counselor who values authentic relationships, cultural humility and personal-centered practice,” McPoil said.

“I hope to integrate the lessons from the PCE conference by recognizing the influence of social identities, responding thoughtfully to emerging global challenges and using person-centered principles to promote healing, resilience and meaningful growth.”

Beyond the conference

The trip included some sightseeing. Students got to explore local history and culture by visiting museums, taking a Rhine riverboat cruise and touring the ruins of Drachenfels Castle and nearby Schloss Drachenburg.

“Germany is rich with history and has unique architecture. The food was also amazing with authentic German and Italian restaurants,” McPoil said.

Learn more about the graduate counseling program