The newly elected officers鈥擠r. Angel Knoverek (President), Dr. Mark Vander Ley (Treasurer), and Danielle Hamilton, MA (Secretary)鈥攁re all 91直播 faculty members. Together, they bring extensive academic and clinical expertise to their leadership roles, and their efforts reflect the college鈥檚 deep commitment to community engagement and mental health advocacy.

鈥淏y strengthening the counseling profession, MCA will enhance the quality of mental health services available to individuals and families, contributing to healthier and more resilient communities,鈥� said Dr. Knoverek, who is also a licensed counselor for more than 25 years.

Knoverek first identified the need to revive the MCA while advising students in Culver-Stockton鈥檚 new Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) program. After reviewing Missouri licensure regulations and learning that the MCA had disbanded, she and her colleagues began a year-long effort to bring the association back to life.

The MCA is now fully operational and working in collaboration with other state branches in the Midwest Region to offer continuing education opportunities and support for professional counselors.

Adding a creative and interdisciplinary dimension to the project, the association鈥檚 branding was developed by Victorya Knoverek, a senior at 91直播 majoring in both graphic design and psychology. Victorya, who is also a first-year student in the MAC program, chose the MCA branding as her senior graphic design capstone project, taught by C-SC faculty member Sally Kintz.

Her work is now being used across MCA鈥檚 social media platforms and official correspondence,
with plans to implement the branding across the organization’s website in the near future.

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud that the relaunch of the MCA is not only faculty-led but also features the creative work of one of our outstanding students,鈥� Vander Lay added. 鈥淰ictorya鈥檚 interdisciplinary perspective has given the association a fresh and professional visual identity as we reconnect with counselors across Missouri.鈥�

The Missouri Counseling Association鈥檚 mission is to promote the development of professional counselors, provide advocacy in the field, and raise awareness around ethical and culturally inclusive best practices. Its vision is to enhance the quality of life for Missourians by supporting the counseling profession.

For more information or to set up an interview with one of the faculty team, contact C-SC Marketing & Public Relations at 573-288-6000, ext. 6728, or via email at pr@culver.edu.

About 91直播
91直播, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill overlooking the Mississippi River, was founded in 1853 by members of the Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 21 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse student organizations, and many campus-life events.

This comprehensive conference will provide mental health professionals, educators, and other human service helping professionals an opportunity to deepen their understanding of complex trauma and explore practical, evidence-based interventions. Attendees will gain valuable insight into the neurological, physiological, and psychological effects of trauma, and learn how to apply effective strategies for supporting those impacted by trauma鈥攅specially vulnerable populations such as immigrants, refugees, and individuals experiencing systemic trauma.

The event will feature a keynote address by Angel Knoverek, PhD, LCPC/LPC, ACS, on the impact of complex trauma, followed by three rounds of breakout sessions led by experts in the field, including Lindsey Knochel, MSW, LCSW, and Karen C. Simms, MFT. Session topics include: Complex Trauma & Neurobiology, Evidence-Based Strategies to Support Parents, Complex Trauma in Immigrant & Refugee Families, Complex Trauma, Schools, and Learning, Supporting Parents Who Experienced Intergenerational or Systemic Trauma, Complex Trauma and Substance Use, Complex Trauma and LGBTQ+ Youth and Provider Bias, Implicit Racism, & White Privilege. The day will conclude with an inspiring session, When Hurts Heal: A Message of Hope and Resilience, presented by Karen C. Simms, MFT, Director of Trauma & Resilience Initiative, Inc.

91直播’s Director of Counselor Education, Dr. Angel Knoverek, serves as the Director for the States of Missouri (91直播, Canton, MO) and Illinois (Mindshift Center, Quincy, IL) Complex Trauma training Consortiums. Dr. Angel Knoverek states, 鈥淚t’s a great resource to have this level of expertise in our local tri-state community, especially to develop our helping professionals’ knowledge and best practices to work with individuals who have experienced complex trauma.鈥�

Registration for the event can be found online at bit.ly/cts_2024. The event is $45 per general registration. General registration includes lunch and a certificate of attendance. Registration is free for C-SC students. Professionals in mental health, human services, and education are encouraged to register early to secure their spot for this important event. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/cts_2024 or contact Dr. Melissa Holt at mholt@culver.edu or 573-228-6417.

Before the simulation, students in the CAST program prepare from various disciplines to work with children affected by traumatic events, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. The curricula in these courses are aligned with the Zero Abuse Project, and C-SC faculty collaborate with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network on the case where vignettes are used.

鈥淭his mock house simulation is one of the highlights of the students鈥� experiences,鈥� Dr. Angel Knoverek said.鈥� Knoverek serves the College as the CAST Coordinator and Director of Counselor Education. She continued, 鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to watch them balance the excitement related to learning with the intense heaviness of the topic and details related to the child abuse case. The simulation also helps them understand the need for self-care when working with individuals who have experienced trauma.鈥� The mock house simulation is a one-day event at 91直播.

For more information regarding the CAST program at C-SC, contact Dr. Angel Knoverek at aknoverek@culver.edu or (573)288-6000 ext. 6452.

The programs were developed by Dr. Angel Knoverek 鈥�93, who serves the College as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Knoverek has a rich history as a licensed professional counselor and focused on childhood trauma for nearly 30 years before joining the Culver-Stockton faculty as an educator. Knoverek shared, 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to have the opportunity to develop the Master of Arts in Counseling and look forward to advancing our students in their livelihoods as professionals, caring individuals, and contributors to their communities.鈥� Graduates of the C-SC Master of Arts in Counseling program will gain unique experiences to transform their careers and the lives of clients they serve.

91直播 will hold an informational session regarding the MAC program in the near future. For information regarding that event, financial aid for the degree program, or admission requirements, please contact C-SC Admission at 800-573-1883 or online at culver.edu/MAC.