Health and Human Services News

Embarking on a future of helping others

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For Missouri State University senior Macey Maas Hauver, her goal of becoming a nurse is within reach.

This December, Maas Hauver will graduate from MSU with her nursing degree.

Realizing a goal

Macey Maas HauverFrom Kearney, Missouri, Maas Hauver grew up in a family of nurses, so she was always aware of the field. As she got older, her enjoyment of biology and health sciences inspired her to make nursing a career of her own.

Maas Hauver chose to attend Missouri State due to its nursing program.

“I visited the campus while I was in high school. I thought it was a pretty campus and the people seemed friendly. My decision was made easier because of the nursing school,” she said.

She came to Missouri State in 2020. She believes the nursing program has prepared her well for the workforce.

“Our clinicals at varying locations and different units, as well as the clinical instructors have been very helpful,” she said.

Serving in the National Guard

While a student, Maas Hauver was also juggling service in the Missouri Air National Guard. Initially, she joined the National Guard to help her pay for school. But it quickly became much more to her.

“Along the way, it has made me grow a lot through basic training and my job as a logistics planner for the 139th Airlift Wing,” she said. “The National Guard has been a huge benefit, beyond just putting me through school.”

For her job, she helps with planning for deployments and exercises for her base.

According to Maas Hauver, the National Guard has changed her life.

Maas Hauver in National Guard uniform

“I had to take off the first semester of my sophomore year for basic training and tech school. But that taught me a lot about perseverance and gave me a stronger mentality,” she said. “This journey has also given me many experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise in college.”

Balancing school and her National Guard obligations has been tough at times for Maas Hauver. She has to attend drills one weekend every month and sometimes assist with other responsibilities. For example, she had to be at an air show recently for a few days.

While the journey has been challenging, the people around her have made the process easier.

“Everyone’s very supportive and understanding, especially my professors and my leadership in the National Guard,” she said.

Get involved

She encourages current and future students to network and find ways to stay engaged.

“Get involved in whatever you can to make the most of your time here. And always go out of your way to put yourself out there and talk to someone in your classes,” Maas Hauver said.

She was involved in Delta Zeta sorority and the Student Nursing Organization on campus. She notes her favorite part about her time at Missouri State is the lifelong friendships and connections she has made, especially in nursing school.

Future ambitions

Maas Hauver already has a job lined up – as a pediatric intensive care unit nurse at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City.

She also has plans to continue with the National Guard even after her contract ends in 2026.

Check out nursing programs

Faculty spotlight: Dr. Helena Cox and Dr. Bradley Powers

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Two of our featured faculty members Dr. Helena Cox and Dr. Bradley Powers represent academic excellence in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS).

Cox is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing. She has more than 15 years of clinical nursing experience.

Powers is an assistant professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences. He inspires students with his experience in underserved communities.

Let’s learn more about them.

Where are you originally from?

Dr. Bradley Powers
Dr. Bradley Powers

Cox: I’m originally from Fort Worth, Texas. I’ve lived in Springfield for the past 19 years.

Powers: I was born and raised in a small rural farming community in central Nebraska, near a town called Cairo.

What brought you to Missouri State and how long have you been here?

Cox: I’ve been at Missouri State for one year. I started last fall. What drew me to MSU was the opportunity to develop an accelerated undergraduate nursing program.

Powers: I moved to Springfield in 1990 to complete my doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Forest Institute. I enjoyed the area and job opportunities, so I made it my permanent home. After teaching at the doctoral level for 16 years, at a private PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) program in Springfield (which has since closed), I learned MSU was starting a new PsyD and I just had to get back into the academic environment. I started working at MSU in August 2023.

What do you enjoy most about working at the university and in MCHHS?

Cox: I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the collaboration with my colleagues. I work with such a

Dr. Helena Cox
Dr. Helena Cox

wonderful group of professionals and look forward to continuing to work and grow with the team.

Powers: I think the thing I enjoy most is the students and colleagues. Those relationships are the most rewarding and important at this stage of my career.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in your field?

Cox: I didn’t start nursing school until I was in my mid-20s, and I think the biggest reason that I chose nursing was I felt like I wanted to do something purposeful to help others.

Powers: As a young person growing up in an underserved area, I became very interested in the helping profession. Having parents who were also engaged in health care also significantly impacted my reasoning for choosing to become a psychologist.

What inspired your journey from industry to academia?

Cox: My journey from clinical nursing into academia has evolved over a 24-year career. I practiced at the bedside for 14 years and developed a like for working with students in the clinical setting. I earned a master’s degree in nursing education and began teaching full time. I’ve since earned a doctorate in nursing practice and look forward to more future endeavors.

Powers: Throughout my journey, I was fortunate and privileged to be able to participate in both academia and industry. I believe having the best opportunity to apply knowledge from both settings seems like a perfect match.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying that resonates with you?

Powers: I’d say there are many influential people throughout my life who have shaped my thoughts, but my grandmother was a primary voice of reason. She always said, “If it was meant to be, then let it be.”

What do you do for leisure and/or to relax?

Cox: My favorite activity for leisure is crafting and I enjoy decorating.

Powers: I’m a farm kid at heart, so anything outdoors, in nature fits the bill as a great day.

What’s your favorite fall activity or festival?

Cox: Fall is my favorite time of the year! It’s so beautiful, the weather is gorgeous, pumpkin spice is in the air and it is officially fall festival season. I like to travel around to all the different fall craft shows and festivals with my daughter, Brittany.

Powers: College football is something that growing up in Nebraska was a fall activity (maybe more of a ritual), so watching and going to those games give me tremendous joy and (more lately heartache!).

Explore MCHHS

Faculty and staff spotlight

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We are excited to recognize Clinical Assistant Professor Morgan Nemeth and Simulation Center Coordinator Jessica Matney . 

Nemeth is a faculty member in the School of Nursing, while Matney is a staff member in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services. 

Let’s get to know them! 

What is your favorite memory here so far?  

Nemeth: I’ve had an enriching experience working at MSU, but one standout memory is from this semester’s (spring ‘24) Skills Fair for senior nursing students. We transformed the event into a lively carnival, dressing up in costumes, decorating the Simulation lab and providing treats for the students. This allowed the faculty to enjoy themselves and helped ease the nervousness among students as they demonstrated hands-on skills. 

Matney: Attending the Staff Awards Luncheon and celebrating the dedicated faculty and staff who have contributed to the success of Missouri State is my fondest memory. 

What brought you to Missouri State?  

Nemeth: Prior to joining MSU, I held a position in nursing education at a local hospital. While I enjoyed education, my passion led me to the pre-licensure side, where education wasn’t a mandatory yearly event. Working with students at the beginning of their nursing careers and contributing to the preparation of future nurses have been incredible opportunities I feel fortunate to be a part of. 

Matney: I began as a part-time employee, assisting in the Simulation Center and embracing the people and atmosphere. 

Where are you from?  

Nemeth: I was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, with both my dad and sister graduating from Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU). After moving to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2002, I obtained my nursing degree there. I moved to Seattle, Washington, in 2015 due to my husband’s job. However, the distance and weather led us back to Springfield in 2017— a journey that truly feels like coming home.

Matney: I currently reside in Ozark, Missouri, and I was raised in the surrounding area. 

How many years have you been at Missouri State?  

Nemeth: I started working at MSU in August 2021. 

Matney: I’ve been with Missouri State for a little over a year now, working both part time and full time. 

What’s your favorite part about working here?  

Nemeth: The most rewarding aspect of working at MSU is the vibrant community of individuals I interact with daily. From fellow faculty and students to administrators and clinical partners, everyone shares a collective focus on continuous growth and improvement. The university’s commitment to student success not only aligns with my values, but also makes my role more fulfilling, as their success translates into mine. 

Matney: My favorite part about working for Missouri State is the camaraderie and the fulfillment of adding value to my community.   

What are you most looking forward to this semester? 

Nemeth: Each semester brings a new cohort of students, and I’m particularly excited about getting to know my current students and accompanying them on this phase of their nursing journey. Learning from my students and constantly evaluating how I present and apply my knowledge in the nursing profession is an ongoing process — the learning doesn’t cease just because I’m the instructor! 

Matney: I’m eager to contribute to the creation of engaging experiences for students and faculty, assisting in overcoming challenges in simulation and providing a beneficial resource to the college. 

Learn more about MCHHS

MSU School of Nursing awarded large grant

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Thanks to a $377,000 grant from the state’s Nursing Education Incentive Program, Missouri State University can expand its nursing program.  

Dr. Kathryn Patterson, director of MSU’s School of Nursing, spearheaded the effort to secure the grant.   

“This award is an honor and I’m ecstatic we were selected for this,” said Patterson. “The goal is to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty, which will allow us to educate more pre-licensure students to help with the current nursing shortage in our community.”  

Grant initiatives and impact  

The grant will provide funds for two new faculty members to teach in the accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.  

This accelerated option will focus on clinical practice leadership, with additional funds to provide partial scholarships or traineeships to students who complete the program with a commitment to teach in a Missouri Higher Education School of Nursing for a minimum of three years.   

“Our focus is on developing an accelerated MSN program, which reduces the time to complete the degree to increase the number of qualified nurse leaders,” Patterson said. “The program’s shorter structure will appeal to those seeking a quick turnaround.”  

Addressing educational gaps and community needs  

The School of Nursing’s proposal aligns with the pressing need to address gaps in nursing education. The shortage of qualified nursing faculty has led to the denial of admission to many eligible applicants.  

MSU’s undergraduate nursing program has denied admission to 286 eligible applicants since 2020. This is due to resource constraints, including faculty shortages and limited clinical placements.  

“We have a critical shortage of nursing faculty necessary to support applicants for our program,” Patterson said. “One-third of the current nursing faculty workforce in bachelor’s and graduate degree programs will retire by 2025.”  

Creating sustainability  

The grant marks a step in retaining nursing educators and addressing the retirement of a large part of the current nursing workforce.  

“Now that we have the funding, our work begins in earnest. We aim to exceed the expectations set by this grant,” Patterson said. “Our mission is to produce high-quality clinical nurse leaders to support the community’s health care needs.”  

Learn more about the School of Nursing