Graduate Student

Counseling, Leadership, & Special Education

If you take a trip to the campus Career Center, you are bound to come across the bright, smiling face of Smruthi Chintakunta. Smruthi lives the public affairs mission by choosing to join and take leadership roles in organizations that reflect each of the three pillars.

Since her freshman year, Smruthi has been involved in Counseling Outreach and Peer Engagement (COPE).  As current president of this student organization, Smruthi is responsible for providing a connection for her counseling peers.  She also ensures that she is interacting ethically with her clients through the many counseling resources and information that she is responsible for sharing.

Smruthi is also involved in the student group Global Leaders and Mentors (GLaM).  She takes a leadership role to help MSU international students get and stay connected to Springfield and the Missouri State campus. Having lived in India as a young person, Smruthi is able to share her firsthand experiences with fellow international students with what it is like entering the United States and integrating into a new community.  In addition, she is involved in the Student Alumni Association (SAA) as well as serves as a graduate assistant in the Career Center. Through these positions, she regularly engages with the campus and community to find new ways to bond with alumni and sharing development resources with her peers.

Overall, Smruthi’s campus journey has engaged her in many different experiences.  A personal goal is to try and “make one positive impact every day.”   Despite the challenges of this past year, Smruthi continues to lead and keep momentum building through online formats and social media.   Smruthi’s positive outlook has impacted many, as she continues to make campus a better, brighter place.  Congratulations to Smruthi as February’s Public Affairs Student Spotlight.