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  • McQueary College of Health and Human Services

A nod to excellence

May 14, 2025 by Sewly Khatun

A Make Your Missouri Statement banner on campus.

Passionate faculty and staff are at the heart of McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS), making an impact every day through their dedication and service.  

On April 24, the college came together to celebrate these exceptional individuals at its 2nd Annual Awards Banquet. 

Their contributions go beyond personal achievement — they enrich the learning environment and strengthen support systems that define the MCHHS community. Each honoree embodies the college’s core values, serving as an inspiring example for others to follow.  

“The banquet was such a fun way to connect with colleagues and recognize the hard work happening across our college,” said Dr. Sarah Murray, assistant professor and program director of nutrition and dietetics.  

List of awards 

 Foundation Recipients Award 

  • Teaching Award: Natalie Allen, clinical associate professor, nutrition and dietetics 
  • Research Award: Dr. Amy Hulme, associate professor, biomedical sciences 
  • Service Award: Dr. Randi Ulbricht, associate professor, biomedical sciences 

Office Orchestrator Award

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

  • Missi Lafarlette , academic administrative assistant II 

Community Impact Award

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member for impactful community engagement that reflects the public affairs mission. 

  • Kelly Dudley, clinical assistant professor, social work 

Outstanding Academic Advisor 

This award recognizes a staff member for excellence in advising. 

  • Jessica McShan, academic advisor II 

Outstanding Faculty Advisor 

This award recognizes a faculty member for excellence in advising. 

  • Dr. Robert Niezgoda, visiting assistant professor, public health 

Bearwise Education Excellence Award 

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

  • Dr. Traci Garrison, clinical associate professor, occupational therapy 

Outstanding Service Award 

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

  • MCHHS information technology department 

Teamwork Trailblazers Award 

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

  • MCHHS Student Success and Advisement Center staff 

Dean’s Awards 

  • Dean’s Recognition for Service: Dr. Sarah Murray, assistant professor and program director of nutrition and dietetics 
  • Outstanding Service to MCHHS: Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean 
  • Outstanding Student Engagement: Nicole Gorley, senior instructor and lab coordinator, biomedical sciences 
  • Outstanding Support to MCHHS: Teri Trickey, director of catering, Chartwells 
  • Outstanding Community Partnership: Burrell Behavioral Health 

Roy D. Blunt Life Science Professorship 

This endowed award, established through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, supports faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. It recognizes excellence in teaching, research and scholarship advancing the life sciences. 

  • Dr. Amy Hulme, associate professor, biomedical sciences   

Research Fellow 

This new appointment provides support and mentorship to new faculty, centered on the development of a scholarly agenda. 

  • Dr. Leslie Echols, associate professor, psychology 

“I was so surprised and honored to receive the Dean’s Recognition for Service, especially since I helped plan the event and thought I knew the program inside out!” Murray said. “Serving as the Dean’s Fellow for the past two years has been an incredible opportunity to learn about leadership and the administrative side of our college.” 

For White Minnis, receiving the Outstanding Service to MCHHS Award fills her with both gratitude and humility.  

“It affirms my efforts to support others and contribute to our college community. I’ve had the good fortune of working with people who inspire me to serve with purpose and carry that commitment forward with the same dedication that brought me here.” 

Retirements

Besides recognizing outstanding contributions from faculty and staff, the banquet also offered a heartfelt moment to honor those whose long-standing dedication helped advance the college. This year’s retirees honored for their dedication and years of service included: 

  • Dr. Roberto Canales, faculty emeritus 
  • Dr. Susan Dollar, faculty emeritus 
  • Dr. Anne Marie Hunter, faculty emeritus 

Explore MCHHS

Filed Under: MCHHS Events, Occupational Therapy Tagged With: Biomedical Sciences, faculty, Letitia White-Minnis, MCHHS Student Success and Advisement Center, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physician Assistant Studies, Psychology, public health, Sarah Murray, Social Work

Shining a spotlight on student research

May 13, 2025 by Sewly Khatun

Psychology majors Allie German (left) and Chance Barber (right) presented their research on personality, media use and stress response.

Innovation, discovery and a spirit of exploration were on full display at this year’s McQueary College of Health and Human Services’ (MCHHS) 29th Annual Student Research Symposium.  

The event took place on April 24 in the Plaster Student Union. It featured 53 abstracts with contributions from 147 student researchers across undergraduate and graduate programs. 

Participants represented a wide range of disciplines, including athletic training, biomedical sciences, dietetics and nutrition, exercise science, physical therapy, psychology and speech-language pathology. 

“Our Student Research Symposium is a long-standing tradition that highlights our commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean. “The symposium provides students with valuable opportunities to share their research findings, engage with faculty mentors and other community members and contribute to knowledge that advances their field of study.” 

The research projects presented explored current issues across the health and human services spectrum. They included injury prevention, women’s health and performance, nutrition education, clinical innovation and the application of emerging technologies in health care. 

The symposium also recognized the dedication of faculty mentors, whose encouragement and insights help students turn their ideas into impactful research.  A special recognition goes to the MCHHS Student Research Symposium Committee for organizing and sustaining this important academic tradition. 

Learn more about MCHHS

Filed Under: Athletic training, MCHHS Events, speech-language pathology Tagged With: Biomedical Sciences, Exercise Science, Letitia White-Minnis, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physical Therapy, Psychology, research, students

A voice of hope for rural communities

January 17, 2025 by Sewly Khatun

Dr. Susan Dollar

After more than two decades at Missouri State University, Dr. Susan Dollar, a professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, will retire on Jan. 31, 2025.  

Throughout her career, Dollar has promoted rural health initiatives, mentorship and global learning experiences, leaving a lasting impact on students and communities alike. 

“Dollar’s career has been defined by her dedication to serving communities, mentoring students and promoting global learning,’ said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, associate dean of McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS). “Her impact on MSU and on the social work profession will be felt for generations to come.” 

From the Air Force to social work 

Dollar’s path to social work began with her commitment to serving others.  

After earning her bachelor’s degree in health services management from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou) in 1981, she served five years as a U.S. Air Force supply officer. This role took her to Florida, Illinois and Germany.  

Her time in the Air Force sparked a desire to address broader social challenges and serve underprivileged communities. 

“I wanted to make a difference in communities that needed it the most,” Dollar said.  

That desire led her to pursue a Master of Social Work from Mizzou in 1990. Upon completion, she spent 10 years working for a nonprofit addressing rural health disparities in southeastern Louisiana.  

To further explore her growing interest in rural health and community engagement, Dollar earned a doctorate in social work from Tulane University in 1998. Her research focused on retention in therapeutic communities for polydrug abusers – a critical area in addressing health disparities.

Finding a home at Missouri State  

Susan Dollar with her MSU colleagues.
Susan Dollar with her MSU colleagues.

In 2000, a former professor invited Dollar to interview for the assistant professor of social work position at what was then Southwest Missouri State University. The university’s public affairs mission and interdisciplinary approach to education resonated with her. 

“I chose Missouri State because of its public affairs mission,” she said. “It aligned with my values and passion for community service, teaching and research.” 

Dollar joined the university in 2001, bringing her expertise in rural health and community practice to the classroom. Her hands-on experience enriched her teaching, helping students connect theory to practice through real-world activities. 

Reflecting on her 24 years at MSU, Dollar expressed gratitude for her colleagues and students.  

“It’s been a great career – I’d give it a 4.8 on a 5.0 scale!”  Dollar said. 

Empowering communities through education 

Dollar became a leading faculty member in community-focused research projects, working with students and other colleagues on grant-funded initiatives. These projects included a health outreach for Latino communities in rural southwest Missouri and computer literacy programs for older adults. 

“One of the most notable points in my career was co-writing and managing community health grants funded through the Missouri Foundation for Health,” Dollar said. 

Susan Dollar with her MSU students
Susan Dollar with her MSU students.

The first grant, “Salud Para La Vida (Health for Life),” was worth $305,000 over three years between 2003 to 2006. This project was designed to address Latino health needs in southwest Missouri and train health professionals in rural practice with Latino populations.

The second grant, “Senior Health U (SHU),” was a health literacy grant for older adults funded for $168,000 from 2010 to 2012. Students supported older adults in building computer skills and understanding medical terminology, focusing on using plain language to explain technical information. 

One of her proudest achievements came in 2014. She served as a Fulbright Scholar in Russia, where she taught community health at Buryat State University in Ulan Ude, Siberia.

“It was an eye-opening experience, especially working with the Buryat culture,” she said. “The people’s warmth and hospitality left a lasting impression on me.” 

A legacy of mentorship and global learning 

Dollar’s passion for teaching and mentoring has shaped countless MSU students. She encouraged them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations through practical learning experiences. 

Her “Salud Para La Vida” (Health for Life) project involved students providing health screenings.

“Seeing students engage with communities and make a tangible difference was incredibly rewarding,” she said. 

Her efforts in engaging students extended beyond Missouri. Dollar led study away trips to Ireland for MCHHS students and accompanied other faculty on trips to Vietnam, Bhutan and Australia. These experiences gave students a global perspective on community health and social work.  

She hopes her students remain curious and innovative in their careers.  

“I want students to present information and practice from a research-informed perspective,” she said. “Curiosity and ethical practice go hand in hand as they complement each other.” 

An emphasis on problem-solving techniques 

Dollar encourages students to follow the problem-solving techniques she practices and teaches in social work classes. She strengthens these lessons by sharing insights from her leadership experience as director of the School of Social Work from 2008 to 2012. 

“When you work in an organization, there will be inevitable challenges. It’s best when you learn to respond to crisis or unfamiliar situations by using rational problem-solving methods,” she said. 

In social work, we are guided by the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics, a set of principles and practices that guide practice.   

“We also know how to explore various options and ensure we consult with those most affected by the issue before making a decision. That’s how I’ve tried to conduct myself and deal with problems.”

Dollar's amazing brown trout catch.
Dollar’s amazing brown trout catch.

“If you’re ever lost or stressed in the social work program, the unspoken rule is simple: Go to Dollar,” said Dr. Amanda Keys, associate professor in School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences. “She has a way of making you feel seen and valued. When she speaks, her words carry weight and provide guidance that you need.”

Looking ahead: retirement and beyond

As Dollar prepares to retire, she looks forward to spending time on personal projects. These include traveling, fly fishing and working on woodturning and ceramic projects with her wife, Deb.  

While she plans to take a year off from volunteering, she remains committed to staying connected to the human services field.  

“There are so many service opportunities out there,” she said. “I want to do international volunteer work, but first, I need to find the right nonprofit organization to partner with.” 

 

Explore School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences

Filed Under: MCHHS News Tagged With: Amanda Keys, faculty, Letitia White-Minnis, School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Social Work, Susan Dollar

Celebrating rising stars in health care

December 17, 2024 by Sewly Khatun

Fall 2024 Graduate Celebrations

The McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) proudly celebrates students’ achievements.  

A total of 167 students were hooded, pinned and received a white coat within a department or school ceremony for the fall 2024 semester. 

“These culminating ceremonies provide opportunities for faculty and staff to celebrate the academic milestones of students,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean.  

Students who have been hooded or pinned are on track to graduate this fall, while those who received white coats are ready to advance to their clinical rotations. 

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Twenty-two Master of OT students were hooded. 

Nursing

Forty-five Bachelor of Science in Nursing students were pinned. 

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

Twenty-six SLP students were pinned. 

Physician Assistant Studies (PAS)

Thirty-three PAS students received white coats, while another cohort of 30 students graduated. 

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

Eleven DNAP CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) students celebrated their program completion at a graduation ceremony. 

MCHHS congratulates these emerging health care leaders and is committed to supporting them as they embark on their professional journeys. They play a vital role in strengthening communities and advancing the health care sector. 

 Explore MCHHS programs

Filed Under: MCHHS Events, MCHHS News, Occupational Therapy, School of Nursing, speech-language pathology Tagged With: commencement, Letitia White-Minnis, Physician Assistant Studies, Student Success, students

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