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
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.
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
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.
In 1971, his dream of becoming a Bear became reality when he enrolled at what was then known as Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU).
