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.

Celebrate Mo State healthcare

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Missouri State University will celebrate the completion of the Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall on Sept. 9.

This transformative space on campus brings health sciences education, clinical training and community care together under one roof.

The dedication ceremony will also highlight the building’s clinics and services available to the community and recognize a major gift supporting the future of health sciences at Missouri State. It will take place from 3-5 p.m. at the main entrance of Kampeter Hall. There will be a brief program under a tent followed by Pineapple Whip treats and tours of the updated clinics and labs.

“The Phase 2 renovation of Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall represents more than an investment in a building. The renovation is an investment in our students, faculty and the future of health education at Missouri State,” said Dr. Mark Smith, dean of McQueary College of Health and Human Services.

“By bringing biomedical sciences together with exercise science and other health disciplines in modern learning and laboratory environments, these spaces create opportunities for collaboration and strengthen the connection between science and the preparation of future health professionals. We’re grateful to everyone whose support and commitment made this transformation possible.”

Explore the Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall

Highlighting impact and achievement

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Excellence shows up every day across the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS).  

It is in the classroom, in research labs and in the way faculty and staff support students and each other. 

On April 23, the college gathered at the Old Glass Place for its 3rd Annual Awards Banquet to recognize contributions and celebrate excellence. The evening brought together faculty, staff and partners to recognize achievements across teaching, research, service and collaboration. Each award reflected the shared commitment to student success and meaningful community impact. 

“I enjoy the tradition we’ve built with the Awards Banquet because it gives us a chance to pause and celebrate our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean.  

“In the fast-paced world we live in, we don’t always take time to do that. Their work reflects our shared commitment to Missouri State’s public affairs mission and helps prepare our students to make a real difference in the communities they serve.” 

List of awards  

 Office Orchestrator Award  

This award recognizes a staff member who goes above and beyond to create a welcoming, supportive college environment for colleagues and students. 

Community Impact Award 

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member for impactful community engagement that reflects Missouri State University’s public affairs mission.   

Outstanding Service Award 

This award honors faculty or staff for exceptional service that goes beyond expectations and positively impacts the workplace.   

Teamwork Trailblazers Award 

This award is presented to a group that demonstrates exceptional collaboration, teamwork, idea-sharing and commitment to a common goal.   

Outstanding Academic Advisor 

This award honors a staff member who demonstrates excellence in advising and provides strong support to students as they work toward achieving their academic and professional goals. 

Outstanding Faculty Advisor 

This award honors a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in advising and supports students throughout their university experience. 

Bearwise Educator Excellence Award 

This award recognizes a faculty member for innovative, inclusive teaching and outstanding mentorship that inspires student engagement and learning.   

Bear-illiant Researcher Award 

This award recognizes faculty members who actively involve students in research activities through strong mentorship and meaningful research opportunities. Recipients help foster a vibrant research community that values students’ active role in the pursuit of knowledge.

Dean’s Awards

From left Dr. Mark Smith, Greg Rainwater and Dr. Letitia White Minnis
From left Dr. Mark Smith, Greg Rainwater and Dr. Letitia White Minnis

Retirements  

MCHHS also honored this year’s retirees for their devotion and years of service: 

Explore MCHHS

Guiding research across MCHHS

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New knowledge often starts with simple questions. At Missouri State University, research events turn those questions into new ideas and discoveries. 

The McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) will host its 30th Annual Student Research Symposium on April 16. This yearly event challenges undergraduate and graduate students to present scholarly work across disciplines. 

Dr. Leslie Echols, professor of psychology in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences and current MCHHS research fellow, helps lead the college’s research efforts. 

“It’s been a valuable opportunity for faculty from one program to learn about what someone from another program is doing,” she said. “We can all learn from each other and the different experiences we’ve had.” 

Strengthening faculty research 

Dr. Leslie Echols
Dr. Leslie Echols

Echols joined Missouri State in 2014 after completing a postdoctoral appointment at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since then, she has centered her teaching, scholarship and service around research. 

In fall 2025, she was appointed the MCHHS research fellow, a role focused on expanding research support across the college. She works with fellow faculty members, helping them navigate research processes and connect with available resources. One of her first initiatives was developing a centralized SharePoint hub where faculty can access information about funding opportunities, research tools and institutional guidance. 

Echols also hosts monthly research “brown bag” sessions, informal gatherings that allow faculty to discuss emerging topics and exchange ideas. The upcoming brown bag session topics are related to creating a sustainable research pipeline and setting summer scholarship goals. 

“These sessions give colleagues a chance to learn from each other,” Echols said. “We have faculty doing interesting work across the college and creating space for those discussions often leads to new partnerships.” 

In addition, she provides individual consultations to faculty who are preparing grant applications, designing studies, completing the Institutional Review Board approval process and navigating university research procedures. 

Engaging students in research 

Beyond faculty support, Echols also works to expand opportunities for student involvement in research activities. Through mentorship and collaboration, she encourages faculty to include students in research design, data collection and analysis. 

“I think one of our biggest strengths is how MCHHS faculty bring students into the research process,” Echols said. “Those experiences are incredibly valuable, especially for students considering graduate school.” 

She believes hands-on research allows students to explore complex questions, develop analytical skills and gain a deeper understanding of their discipline. When students work alongside faculty researchers, learning extends beyond the classroom and benefits everyone.  

Developing school-based interventions 

Alongside her leadership role within the college, Echols continues to lead several research projects through internal and external partnerships.  

One study she is currently working on is a school-based intervention program designed for students with hostile attribution bias. 

“Hostile attribution bias occurs when students interpret negative social events as intentional attacks, even when they may be accidental,” she said. “This pattern can lead to reactive behavior, social conflict and increased vulnerability to bullying.” 

To address this, Echols and her research team are developing screening tools to identify students who may need support and lesson plans that help them respond more constructively to peer interactions. They plan to pilot the intervention program in Springfield-area schools this spring, an important step in moving the research into real-world practice. 

Looking ahead to Research Week 

Research efforts across the college will take center stage during the upcoming Student Research Symposium. It is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Grand Ballroom. 

The event allows students from different MCHHS programs to share their research through poster presentations and academic discussions. These projects reflect the work they have conducted over the past year. 

For Echols, the symposium represents one of the most meaningful moments of the academic year because it highlights research and collaboration across programs.  

She is also helping coordinate several Research Week activities, including two faculty panel discussions.  

“Both sessions offer faculty practical ways to strengthen their research and scholarly work. It’s very timely and relevant to where we are right now,” Echols said. 

One panel, “Using AI in Your Research,” is scheduled for April 13 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the O’Reilly Clinical Health Sciences Center, Room 100. The second, “Leveraging Teaching to Increase Research Productivity,” will be held April 14 from 12:30-2 p.m. in Kampeter Hall, Room 238. 

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