Bridge Builder: Todd Pridemore

Todd Pridemore is described as a “natural connector.” His authenticity and ability to connect with people have been crucial to fostering long-term relationships that benefit our college and university. Pridemore’s efforts have resulted in major contributions to our college, including a transformational $4.4 million gift from laboratory science alum Leonard Bush and his wife, Barbara.

His nominator wrote: “Whether engaging with alumni, mentoring students, or collaborating with faculty and staff, his energy and passion make people feel welcomed and valued. He is more than just an advocate for our program; he is a cheerleader for everything our college is doing.”

Core Values: Michelle Custer

Michelle Custer is described as “glue,” “a gifted conductor,” “exceptional communicator,” and “someone to count on for support.” A colleague wrote, “She has the challenging role of providing support to every department/unit, but not always being able to say ‘yes’ to every request. She navigates those situations with wisdom and honesty, and never leaves anyone without a resolution to how to make the best of whatever situation they find themselves in.”

A department nominator wrote, “Michelle meets us where we are at and takes us to new places we could not even imagine, and she can bring us together for the greater good! She stomps past barriers and seizes the opportunities to showcase all that is great about CHS.”

Dean’s Service Award: Stephanie Bland

Despite only being hired two years ago, Stephanie Bland has become such a vital member of the Student Services team that her nominators said it’s hard to remember how they managed without her. They wrote, “We include her more and more in meetings where decision-making is important because we greatly value her insight and perspective. She answers more phone calls in a week than most of us do in a year. She arrives early, works efficiently, and is trusted to take on any new responsibility. One or two of us are particular (even picky) about how processes are run, and she works with us patiently and good-humoredly.”

Another said, “As the first face folks often see as they enter CHS, Stephanie goes above and beyond to ensure we are welcoming to all. Her positivity makes working together a true pleasure.”

Early Career Award: Carrie Larson

Since joining Mizzou in fall 2023, Carrie Larson has already established a productive research lab, actively involved undergraduate students in research, recruited a PhD student, and published important papers in the field.

She was recently awarded a Synergy Grant from the European Research Council that will support her research on cognition and language. It is a multiple-PI study, and she will play a major leadership role as the local PI. She was also accepted as an Early Career Reviewer at NIH, which shows she has a growing reputation as a promising scholar with the potential for significant impact on the field.

Excellence in Clinical Service: Christine Woods

Christine Woods has shaped the next generation of social workers while expanding access to mental health care in some of Columbia’s most underserved communities. She brings more than two decades of clinical experience into the classroom, advises dozens of students each year, and mentors alumni as they begin their professional journeys. Through her private practice, she offers students a rare opportunity: to intern in a setting specifically designed to serve people of color who often do not access mental health care.

Her nominator said she “is an innovator, a collaborator, a mentor, and an entrepreneur whose impact is not only measured in the lives she has directly touched, but in the broader shift toward a more inclusive, empathetic, and supportive mental health landscape.”

Excellence in Education – Early Career: Cody Higgins

Cody Higgins excels as a clinical supervisor and classroom teacher. Students emphasize her ability to provide clear guidance and meaningful feedback. She prioritizes hands-on learning experiences that prepare students to become effective clinicians.

Higgins developed a community-based clinical education model in a local preschool, where students gain hands-on experience delivering early language, literacy and behavioral supports. Over the past few years, she has refined the model to increase student learning and maximize the support provided to children and teachers. The program includes a focus on teacher collaboration, which not only strengthens the impact of the services but also helps students develop essential skills in interprofessional practice.

Excellence in Education – Early Career: Stephanie Allen

Stephanie Allen was hired in 2019 to develop the Occupational Therapy Assistant Baccalaureate program. Typically, when new degree programs are developed, founding program directors have programs at other institutions to look at as examples from which to build. However, because ours was one of the first baccalaureate-level OTA programs in the nation, she had to develop the program with little more than the new accreditation standards to guide her. The OTA-B program launched in fall 2021, achieved full accreditation in summer 2023, and graduated its first cohort of students in fall 2023.

Her nominator said she has already identified and addressed needs for curricular revision to better meet revised accreditation standards and student needs. She has even proposed a hybrid program to serve the needs of rural and nontraditional students.

Excellence in Education: Alese Thompson

Alese Thompson has only been at Mizzou for four years, but she has already proposed three new baccalaureate-level training programs, created five emphasis area courses, and is collaborating with the American Red Cross to develop a graduate course.

Her nominator wrote that her achievements “extend far beyond the instruction, training, and outreach expected of even the most accomplished faculty members. The countless hours she has dedicated reflect her deep commitment to both her profession and the university. She is passionate about making our college’s MLS program one of the best in the nation, and with her leadership and tireless dedication, I have no doubt that she will achieve this goal.”

Excellence in Mentoring: Alice Townsend

Alice Townsend’s mentorship is described as “impactful, individualized, and deeply appreciated by her students.” Her dedication to ensuring their success — whether through resume coaching, networking assistance, or emotional support — sets her apart as an exceptional mentor.

Here’s what one of her students said about her mentorship: “When I approached her about a job position that I was interested in, she not only gave me helpful application advice but reached out to a colleague who knew about the position. She emailed me personally with feedback and graded all my assignments early to give me a chance to apply as soon as possible. She has made a huge difference in my confidence to apply for the position.”

Exemplary Staff Award: Bethany Kendrick

Bethany Kendrick is described as “the face of the department, college, and university” to community partners across the state and country. She manages more than 200 student placements every year and holds active contracts with nearly 400 sites. Her nominators say, “We couldn’t do this without her.”

Students call Kendrick “amazing” and credit her with helping them navigate overwhelming requirements. Community partners describe her as both “efficient and personable,” someone who makes even complex, high-stakes placements feel seamless. One partner put it best: “In this age of virtual relationships and busy lives, it is refreshing to have someone who is both efficient and personable in a position that impacts so many.”

Faculty Engagement: Bill Janes

Bill Janes exemplifies community-engaged scholarship. Whether he’s collaborating with engineering students to modify ride-on cars or setting up adaptive gaming systems on campus, he ensures that innovation doesn’t stay in the lab — it gets into the hands of those who need it most. You’ll find Janes not only knocking out research proposals and securing external funding, but also working side-by-side with students, clinicians and families to co-create solutions that improve quality of life for Missourians and beyond.

Nominators called his approach “a model for other scholars to emulate because he significantly shortens the time from discovery to implementation that improves people’s lives.”

Inclusive Excellence: Donal Buckner

Donal Buckner is known for meeting students where they are — literally — whether that’s the Lewis & Clark lobby, the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, or by hosting workshops and events in the evenings and weekends. One nominator said, “he creates spaces for student engagement — he does not just sit in his office and wait for students to come to him.”

Buckner empowers students to advocate for themselves, build confidence, and embrace their educational journey. This support from someone outside the classroom can make all the difference in whether or not students are able to remain in school and complete their goals.

Lewis and Clark Discovery – Early Career: Anna Boone

Anna Boone makes balancing teaching, research, and service look almost effortless, according to her nominator. In just six years, she has published 19 peer-reviewed articles and five book chapters, and secured nearly $4 million in NIH funding as PI or co-PI.

In addition to being a stellar researcher and scientist, this faculty member excels in the classroom. She’s found ways to enhance and improve students’ educational experience with pipe cleaners, 3D-printed bones and VR goggles. Her nominator said she is the most productive faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy, and her productivity rivals those who are submitting dossiers for full professor.

Lewis and Clark Discovery – Excellence: Shevon Harvey

Shevon Harvey has demonstrated a sustained commitment to mentorship excellence, high-impact discoveries in health research, and dedication to building an effective public health workforce. Her research focuses on addressing health disparities, most recently looking at Type 2 diabetes management in the Bootheel. The impact of her work is multiplied through her impressive mentorship activities.

Harvey’s nominators wrote that her “work demonstrates how dedicated scholarship, and service can transform both institutions and communities while addressing critical societal needs. Through her integrated approach to research, mentorship, and community engagement, she has created sustainable improvements in academic processes and community health outcomes, particularly benefiting underserved populations.”