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
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.
