Story by Gracie Hedenberg

Congratulations to Danielle Easter, assistant clinical professor of social work and co-director of the Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic, for winning a 2022 Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award!  

This annual award and its $1,000 prize honor up to three MU assistant or associate professors who demonstrate superior advising skills, exceptional commitment to student learning inside and outside of the classroom, and potential to be published on teaching-related topics.  

The awarded faculty members must work full-time at MU for five years or less. They also must have stellar recommendations from peers and students, such as Aaron Thompson, professor and director at the School of Social Work, who won this accolade himself in 1996.  

“Professor Easter has some of the highest course evaluations in the School of Social Work and is a beloved professor by [School of Social Work] students,” Dr. Thompson wrote in his recommendation letter. “Her engagement with students and our recent graduates shows her strong social work values and commitment to student learning.” 

Kelli Canada, another of Easter’s colleagues in the School of Social Work, wrote about Easter’s excellent advising, “Professor Easter leads with rapport building, honesty and humor when working with her advisees. She is authentic and genuine, which really helps students open up to her.” 

The topics of Easter’s lauded teaching include criminal justice, veterans and mental illness. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience and worked for nearly 10 years as a social worker for veterans in Columbia, Missouri, before she began her academic career.