Health and Human Services News

Highlighting impact and achievement

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Excellence shows up every day across the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS).  

It is in the classroom, in research labs and in the way faculty and staff support students and each other. 

On April 23, the college gathered at the Old Glass Place for its 3rd Annual Awards Banquet to recognize contributions and celebrate excellence. The evening brought together faculty, staff and partners to recognize achievements across teaching, research, service and collaboration. Each award reflected the shared commitment to student success and meaningful community impact. 

“I enjoy the tradition we’ve built with the Awards Banquet because it gives us a chance to pause and celebrate our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Letitia White Minnis, MCHHS associate dean.  

“In the fast-paced world we live in, we don’t always take time to do that. Their work reflects our shared commitment to Missouri State’s public affairs mission and helps prepare our students to make a real difference in the communities they serve.” 

List of awards  

 Office Orchestrator Award  

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

Community Impact Award 

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member for impactful community engagement that reflects Missouri State University’s public affairs mission.   

Outstanding Service Award 

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

Teamwork Trailblazers Award 

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

Outstanding Academic Advisor 

This award honors a staff member who demonstrates excellence in advising and provides strong support to students as they work toward achieving their academic and professional goals. 

Outstanding Faculty Advisor 

This award honors a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in advising and supports students throughout their university experience. 

Bearwise Educator Excellence Award 

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

Bear-illiant Researcher Award 

This award recognizes faculty members who actively involve students in research activities through strong mentorship and meaningful research opportunities. Recipients help foster a vibrant research community that values students’ active role in the pursuit of knowledge.

Dean’s Awards

From left Dr. Mark Smith, Greg Rainwater and Dr. Letitia White Minnis
From left Dr. Mark Smith, Greg Rainwater and Dr. Letitia White Minnis

Retirements  

MCHHS also honored this year’s retirees for their devotion and years of service: 

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A future psychologist in the making

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Chance Barber wants to make a difference where it matters most: people’s lives.

As the Missouri State University senior prepares to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, he is one step closer to becoming a psychologist.

“I grew up around Missouri State’s campus, so it’s crazy that not long ago, I was 10 years old looking up to the same kind of hardworking, intelligent individuals I’m now around every day,” Barber said. “It’s been an honor to develop personally and professionally in this environment.”

Finding his way at Mo State

When Barber, who is from Republic, Missouri, began his studies at Missouri State in August 2022, he was undecided on a major.

“I wasn’t 100% set on what I wanted to do yet, but Missouri State was a great place to keep my options open while also having the opportunity to explore specific interests,” he said.

When he finally committed to vocational psychology, it was inspired by his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos it caused.

“Just seeing people struggle through work-related challenges in different areas of my life fueled my drive to see where I could help,” Barber said.

Vocational psychology explores how mental health connects to a person’s work and career development. He is especially interested in how it addresses questions like, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”  and “Does the work I do really matter?”

Barber credits Missouri State for giving him a good mix of hands-on and research experiences that helped him learn and grow.

In 2024, he attended the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists conference in Chicago, Illinois. There, he got to learn from the presentations of peers and professors.

Last year, he presented his research about personality and media usage habits and how they are related to cognition quantity and quality at the McQueary College of Health and Human Sciences Student Research Symposium on campus, as well as the Midwestern Psychological Association’s annual conference in Chicago. Later this month, he will return there to present again.

Barber has also had the opportunity under Dr. Amber Abernathy, professor in the School of Mental Health and Behavior Sciences, and as a part of her S.O.C.I.A.L (stress, observation, conscientiousness, investigation and attitudinal learning) norms lab to conduct research and present the team’s findings.

Getting involved in other ways

Outside of the classroom, Barber maximized his college experience by participating in student organizations and taking on leadership roles.

Chance Barber in SHRM
Chance Barber (front row, far right) with fellow SHRM members.

Since his sophomore year, he has been active in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter, becoming vice president his junior year. SHRM is a professional organization for people working in or studying human resources.

During his time as vice president, membership tripled and he supported students in exploring opportunities around Springfield.

“I got to rub shoulders and work with a lot of great student leaders during my time in SHRM,” Barber said.

Last year, the chapter won the prestigious SHRM Superior Merit Award. It honors the chapter for excellence in operations and for delivering meaningful programs and services to members and HR students.

Barber is also currently the Psychology Club treasurer, a role he has held since April 2025. These organizations enabled him to make valuable connections, expand his network and grow both personally and professionally.

“Iron sharpens iron, so when you’re in that kind of environment, you really only have one choice: to improve,” he said.

After graduation, he plans to pursue a PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. There, he will work as part of Dr. Emily Yowell’s Vocational Psychology Research Team.

Be open

Barber encourages students to take time to connect with people around them and embrace opportunities.

“Be open to new opportunities even if you don’t feel qualified, prepared or experienced enough,” he said. “Give yourself time to learn and grow – that’s what college is for.”

Learn more about psychology

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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