Health and Human Services News

Bearing the banner at commencement

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Some honors represent more than one achievement.  

They reflect years of leadership, growth and commitment to making every opportunity count. 

At the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS), the Banner Bearer honor recognizes a student whose academic excellence, campus involvement and service make a lasting impact. 

“Serving as a Banner Bearer is a recognition reserved for students who exemplify Missouri State University’s highest ideals,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “The role represents a student’s demonstrated commitment to the university’s public affairs mission of ethical leadership, community engagement and cultural competence.” 

Representing MCHHS at commencement 

Seven exceptional students were nominated for the honor this year: 

From this group, German was chosen to carry the MCHHS banner and lead the procession for the college at the spring 2026 commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 8 in Great Southern Bank Arena. 

Reflecting on the honor 

Allie German
Allie German

For German, being selected as a Banner Bearer is a meaningful achievement and reflects her undergraduate journey.

She also expressed her gratitude to Dr. Amber Abernathy, professor and psychology undergraduate program director, for the nomination.  

“I spent my undergraduate years making the most of each course, participating in many extracurriculars and seeking experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone,” German said. “Through these experiences, I became more involved on campus and got to know my professors and Missouri State peers better.” 

Abernathy praised German’s commitment to learning and leadership.  

“Over the past few years, I’ve watched Allie distinguish herself through research, campus leadership and academic excellence,” Abernathy said. “She approaches all projects with excitement and zeal for knowledge.” 

After graduation, German plans to continue her academic journey through Missouri State’s experimental psychology master’s program. 

“My long-term goal is to be an experimental psychologist and to spend a lifetime learning more,” German said. 

 

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Bringing clinical services together under one roof

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This spring, the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) opened a new Collaborative Care Clinic in Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall on Jan. 26.

It unites several existing services in a single, renovated facility designed to support both education and community service. The grand opening celebration will take place Feb. 20. 

Collaboration and student learning 

The clinic strengthens interprofessional education while continuing to deliver affordable health services to the public. 

“This new facility allows us to bring services together in one collaborative space while expanding supervised, hands-on learning opportunities for our students,” said MCHHS Associate Dean Dr. Letitia White-Minnis. “At the same time, it reinforces our role as a community partner by providing high-quality, accessible care.” 

The renovated space spans about 17,000 square feet and occupies more than half of Kampeter Hall’s first floor. It repurposes the former Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic space and adds additional first-floor space to expand the footprint, creating a shared, modern clinical facility. 

A one-stop clinic 

The clinic will offer: 

  • Counseling services  
  • Speech-language pathology diagnostics and treatment  
  • Hearing and balance testing  
  • Hearing aids and learning diagnostic services 
  • Psychological and learning diagnostic services 

Each service operates in a dedicated clinical area with a shared patient waiting room, centralized check-in and coordinated staffing. 

“By bringing everything into one location with shared systems and staff, we’ve made care easier to access for students, faculty and the broader Springfield community,” said Ian Alaimo, director of information technology and operations for MCHHS.

Graduate students from speech-language pathology, counseling, audiology and psychology will provide services under direct faculty supervision. The clinic is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to individuals of all ages and is available to both the campus and the larger community.   

Learn more about the Collaborative Care Clinic

Unlocking potential through research

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The Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professorship is one of Missouri State University’s most prestigious distinctions for faculty. 

Named after former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the professorship recognizes excellence in life sciences. It also provides resources to expand research, teaching and community impact. 

At the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS), three faculty members have received this professorship in recent years: Dr. Wafaa Kaf, Dr. Xiuye Xie and Dr. Amy Hulme. 

For faculty, professorship is more than a recognition. It supports their research to create hands-on learning opportunities for students and translates discoveries into community benefits. While the trio represent different fields, they share one mission: turning science into lasting impact. 

Advancing hearing science 

Dr. Wafaa Kaf
Dr. Wafaa Kaf

Kaf, a distinguished professor of audiology, calls the professorship both a personal honor and professional milestone. Her work focuses on using electrophysiological measures to improve hearing assessment and advance understanding of auditory disorders.  

“Receiving the Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professorship affirms my commitment to this work,” Kaf said.

She is currently studying how migraine-related sound sensitivity affects patients by recording and comparing brain responses to sounds during migraine attacks versus between-attack periods. Her next step is to investigate if various treatments may reduce migraine-related sound sensitivity and improve quality of life. 

“This professorship provides resources to expand my work within audiology and across disciplines like neurology, maxillofacial science, biology and other basic sciences,” Kaf said. 

It also allows her to recruit more participants, share findings at national and international meetings, publish in peer-reviewed journals and reinforce Missouri State’s leadership in innovative audiology research. 

Cultivating resilience in early childhood 

Xie, associate professor of kinesiology, believes that resilience and wellbeing are not innate. It must be learned and nurtured from early childhood.

Dr. Xiuye Xie
Dr. Xiuye Xie

Her research focuses on strengthening children’s social-emotional and motor skills, which together form the foundation for lifelong growth.

“Receiving this professorship is both an honor and a responsibility,” Xie said. “Early intervention is essential. Children need to learn how to adapt, connect and move confidently – skills that shape resilience throughout life.” 

This belief drives her project, “Cultivate Children’s Wellbeing through Dual-Component Intervention.” In partnership with Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation and Head Start, the initiative serves children ages 3-5 from low-income families. It closes developmental gaps while giving caregivers tools to support healthy growth. 

Her work also reflects Missouri State’s public affairs mission by addressing community challenges in Springfield. 

“As a sustainability fellow in 2024, I saw that mental health is a persistent red flag in Springfield’s Community Focus Report,” Xie said. “Building stronger community health literacy starts with our youngest learners and families recognizing the holistic development of children.” 

Breaking barriers in HIV research

Dr. Amy Hulme
Dr. Amy Hulme

Hulme, associate professor of biomedical sciences, is the most recent MCHHS faculty member to receive the professorship.  

Her research focuses on how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) interacts with host cells. This work is essential for developing new treatments, vaccines and cures. 

“I’m honored to receive this professorship, especially given the excellent research in MCHHS,” Hulme said. “It highlights the importance of basic science in improving health, which for me means understanding HIV replication.” 

With a three-year National Institutes of Health R15 grant, her team investigated the role of the protein SPTBN1 in early HIV replication and is continuing these studies. 

She also brings this spirit of discovery into the classroom.  

“I want to make science accessible for every student,” Hulme said. “Active learning helps them apply concepts and grow as professionals.” 

The professorship allows her to expand new collaborations and explore opportunities to present findings at national meetings, raising the university’s visibility in biomedical sciences. 

Through the Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professorship, Kaf, Xie and Hulme are transforming discovery into impact that continues to benefit students and communities alike. 

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Celebrating the future of audiology

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On April 27, 2024, Missouri State University celebrated the White Coat Ceremony for the Doctorate of Audiology class of 2025. This momentous occasion marked the transition of 11 dedicated students as they prepare to embark on their externship year, the final step toward earning their doctorate degree. 

A day of celebration 

Surrounded by family, friends, peers and faculty, the ceremony was a joyous occasion.  

“This is a wonderful celebration and acknowledgement of the students’ hard work and dedication,” said Dr. Sarah Jones, clinical associate professor. “The white coat is indicative of their preparedness and a foundation in audiology to advance to this final stage.” 

Looking ahead 

While the university community will miss seeing these students on campus, there is great excitement for their future endeavors.  

“It’s likely the next time we will see them together as a group will be when they walk at graduation next spring and receive their hooding,” Jones said. 

Support and encouragement 

The White Coat Ceremony not only celebrates the achievements of the students, but also reflects the support and encouragement from those who have been integral to their journey.  

“One thing that makes the ceremony special is the students get to share this event with their family and friends whether in-person or virtually,” said Dr. Edith Bobbit-Boyce, faculty advisor for the MSU Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) organization. 

Missouri State looks forward to the continued success of these future audiologists as they step into their professional roles and make a positive impact in the field of audiology. 

Explore degrees in communication sciences and disorders