It’s that time of year when there’s so much going on, we don’t seem to have enough time and space to cover everything. But I’m giving it a try.

I’ll start with something that’s important to all of us.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month. From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) site: “Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.”

Mental Health Awareness Month “is an opportunity to work toward eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.”

Be aware of resources

At Missouri State University, we offer mental health support for students and employees.

The goal of the Counseling Center at Magers is to promote students’ personal development and psychological well-being.  Experienced professional counselors, social workers, psychologists, provisionally licensed clinical staff and supervised graduate level students assist students in addressing issues that may interfere with their progress at the university. We also offer in-person and after-hours mental health crisis assistance for our students.

For our employees and their immediate family members, we offer our free Employee Assistance Program. It’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.

A couple of participation events this month include today’s Mental Health Trivia with SGA from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the PSU Atrium. NAMI is sponsoring a walk on May 4 at Kickapoo High School starting at 10 a.m.

Collaborative Diversity Conference highlights

As president of Missouri State, there are many things that originated during my tenure I take pride in. One that stands out since it aligns with our Public Affairs mission is the annual Collaborative Diversity Conference. The conference was first held in 2013 and has continued through now, except for 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This year’s well-attended conference, themed “Inclusive Engagement: Uplifting the Power of Community” was held last week. Recognizing and embracing diversity, and promoting a welcoming environment, are essential to the university’s Inclusivity Principles. Promoting a welcoming environment is a crucial step toward fostering inclusivity and support for all members of the university and the broader communities.

The conference capped off with the Inclusive Excellence Awards Gala, where I was the keynote speaker.

MSU faculty and staff honored with Inclusive Excellence awards were the College of Education and McQueary College of Health and Human Services for community engagement; Dr. Marjorie Shavers for campus engagement; and Raeleen Ziegler for humanitarian service. Congratulations to all!

Other updates

Incoming president Dr. Biff Williams extended Provost Dr. John Jasinski’s contract for one more year through June 30, 2025. The work in academics will continue to move forward while allowing Dr. Williams to settle into his new role as president.

And finally, you may recall I’m retiring effective July 1, 2024. My Retirement Reception is from 2-5 p.m. tomorrow at the John Goodman Amphitheatre.  The university chorale will perform at 2:30 p.m. Remarks will begin at 3 p.m.  I hope to see you there!

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif