School of Graduate Studies Symposium Series

Mountain State University provides community outreach through the School of Graduate Studies symposium series. Each semester's series is designed to inform community members of a significant issue and assist in connecting affected individuals with resources. Presenters include MSU faculty members and nationally recognized speakers. The initiative was launched in fall 2011 with a series of symposia focused on issues surrounding autism spectrum disorders.

Our current series, which began in February 2012, addresses the increasing threat of addiction and its effects on our young people, our families, and our communities. Family support and knowledge are critical to successfully managing the heartbreaking issues that surround addiction. In the series opener, Becky Neal, director of intergovernmental affairs in Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office, spoke on substance abuse in West Virginia.

The series continued on March 27 with a symposium on the impact of substance abuse and treatment options available in West Virginia, presented by Cynthia Parsons, program manager for behavioral health services in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

The series concludes Thursday, April 26 with Substance Abuse: An adolescent perspective. Guest speaker Stephanie Southall, a health and human resources specialist with the state Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities, will open the presentation. Emily D. Meadows, regional school wellness specialist at RESA 1, will the moderate a panel discussion involving high school and college students. Parents, educators, and interested community members are encouraged to attend.

All symposia are free and open to the public, with no registration required. For more information contact Indre Cuckler, psychology program specialist, at 304.929.1401 or icuckler@mountainstate.edu.

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