Health and Human Services News

Opening doors to global learning

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Global learning often starts in a new place and grows through experience, curiosity, reflection and connection.  

That spirit drives Missouri State University’s Education Abroad Faculty Fellows Program.  

Two faculty members from the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) were among eight faculty members selected for the 2026 cohort: Dr. Leslie Echols, professor of psychology in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, and Alison Alaimo, clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing. The group includes representation from each of the university’s colleges.

This initiative supports faculty in developing, implementing and leading faculty-directed education abroad programs. It offers a dynamic learning opportunity for faculty members to enhance their global engagement, foster cultural immersion and create meaningful educational experiences for students. 

A chance to expand students’ learning 

For both faculty members, the selection is more than a professional milestone. It creates new opportunities for MCHHS students to explore how culture, systems and daily life impact health and well-being through a global lens.

Alison Alaimo
Alison Alaimo

According to Alaimo, this program supports the kind of learning she values most. 

In nursing, experiential learning helps students grow through labs, clinicals and simulations. Alaimo sees education abroad as a natural extension of that approach.  

“Education abroad aligns with my personal educational philosophy, considering the importance of experiential learning,” Alaimo said. “This type of learning develops critical thinking skills and deepens understanding.” 

While Echols shares that excitement, she also feels a deep sense of responsibility. For her, the program is a chance to learn the process up close before taking students abroad. 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to see how a great program is run before leading a group of students on my own,” Echols said. 

For several years, she hoped to offer psychology students an education abroad experience. Participation in the Education Abroad Faculty Fellows Program will give her the confidence to move forward. 

Why it matters for students 

Dr. Leslie Echols headshot
Dr. Leslie Echols

Both faculty members view education abroad as more than travel. It is a chance to broaden perspectives, deepen understanding and prepare students for a changing world. 

“The students we’re training now will become the health care leaders shaping policy in the future,” Alaimo said. “Hopefully, seeing how health care works in another place will influence them to make it more affordable and accessible in the United States.” 

Echols believes experiences like education abroad enable psychology students to step outside their usual way of thinking and explore different ways of approaching problems. 

“When you go abroad or even if you just go to another town or region, you get outside of whatever your norm is,” Echols said. “You see people doing things differently than you do.” 

That kind of perspective matters in every field connected to human care. It helps students become more reflective, adaptable and globally aware.  

What the program entails  

Now in its second year, the Education Abroad Faculty Fellows Program includes: 

  • A series of interactive workshops designed to connect fellows with essential education abroad resources and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to develop impactful global learning experiences 
  • An eight-day travel experience to Barcelona, Spain, that is focused on sustainability. 

At a recent sustainability workshop, Echols realized the concept was broader than she had imagined. She was especially struck by the 17 themes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting not just environmental resources but also human well-being, including mental health.

“We’re thrilled to support these faculty members in their journey to create global learning experiences that not only enrich students’ academic careers but also foster greater global awareness and responsibility,” said  Elizabeth Strong, director of the office of education abroad. “Through the Fellows Program, we aim to empower faculty to create programs that have a lasting impact on students’ education and personal growth.” 

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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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Supporting student success through partnerships

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Supporting student success comes in many different forms, through multiple avenues and from individuals across the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) community. These include philanthropic financial donations and grants. 

“Philanthropic gifts and grants are essential for the college,” said Dr. Mark Smith, MCHHS dean. “They help us expand access to advanced instructional technology and equipment, provide support services, develop innovative experiential learning opportunities and offer students financial aid.” 

Two recent examples of support for MCHHS are a community partnership gift from Arvest Bank and a collaborative workforce development grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Opening more doors 

 The Arvest Bank gift will benefit the newly opened Collaborative Care Clinic in Kampeter Hall.  

The funds enable the clinic to purchase new toys and essential supplies. These resources will make the clinic more welcoming and help it provide children with the high-quality pediatric and mental health care they deserve. 

As for the workforce development grant, MCHHS partnered with Ozarks Technical Community College, the Alliance for Healthcare Education and several regional health care organizations to secure the grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.  

Through the Strengthening Community Colleges grant program, Ozarks Tech received nearly $5.7 million. It was one of only 18 institutions nationwide to receive the award and the only recipient in Missouri. Missouri State was part of the grant consortium, which brought together education, workforce and health care partners across the region.

This collaboration has provided $800,000 in scholarships for students pursuing degrees in key health fields at MCHHS. 

Eligible programs include: 

Additionally, BSN students at the Alliance campus will also benefit from these funds. They will support the renovation of instructional spaces and facilities, helping to strengthen health care training. 

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Recognized for teaching excellence

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For her years of service and dedication to educating and preparing registered dietitian nutritionists, Missouri State University’s Dr. Daniela Novotny received the NDEP South Central Region Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award (Didactic Program in Dietetics category) for 2026.

Dr. Daniela Novotny headshot.
Dr. Daniela Novotny.

A registered dietitian and senior instructor in the School of Health Sciences, Novotny was selected for the award by a committee of her peers. The award recognizes the teaching, mentoring and leadership activities of faculty in ACEND®-accredited dietetics education programs.

The NDEP (Nutrition and Dietetic Educations Preceptors) is an organizational unit comprising over 1,350 educator and preceptor members.

“Being selected by colleagues who understand the work involved in teaching and mentoring future dietitians makes the award especially meaningful,” Novotny said.

Teaching philosophy

She has invested in students for the past 14 years. She has developed a teaching philosophy “grounded in a student-centered, constructivist approach that emphasizes engagement, skill development and real-world application.”

Case studies and experiential learning are central to her teaching.

“Case studies help students analyze complex situations and build clinical reasoning skills. Experiential learning gives them opportunities to apply knowledge in real-world contexts and bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice,” Novotny said.

She also values teaching her students to think critically about new and current nutrition research.

“Helping students evaluate research, interpret evidence and communicate accurate information is essential for preparing professionals who can navigate today’s complex nutrition landscape,” she said.

NDEP experience

Novotny’s 12-year involvement in the NDEP has helped guide her through her career as an educator.

The organization offers an online community, including discussion boards, mailing lists and a resource library full of members’ ideas and teaching materials. It also has webinars for educators to learn new teaching practices and strategies.

“Being part of a national community of educators who are thinking critically about the future of dietetics education has been valuable for my own professional growth,” Novotny said.

The NDEP recognition is especially meaningful to her.

“Creating an organized, welcoming and inclusive learning environment – whether in person or online – requires intentional effort, and this award reinforces the value of that commitment,” she said.

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