Dr. Amber Henslee, an associate professor of psychological science at Missouri S&T, was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Outstanding Commitment to Undergraduate Student Success in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE) at S&T.

Members of the CASE Dean’s Leadership Council surprised Henslee with the award while she was teaching class on Tuesday, April 7.

“This year, as in all years, we had amazing candidates nominated for the award, which made our selection very difficult, so we are excited to announce Dr. Henslee as this year’s winner” says Dr. Casey Burton, chair of the CASE Dean’s Leadership Council and executive director of research and governmental affairs at Phelps Health. Burton holds bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from S&T.

“I thank all the campus and community who submitted candidates,” Burton says. “Missouri S&T’s faculty in the college are all high quality. Giving out this award has been one of the highlights of my time on the council.”

Henslee joined Missouri S&T as an assistant professor in 2010, and her main field of study is substance use and mental health in underrepresented and stigmatized groups. She says that through her teaching, she hopes to dispel the myths, stereotypes and prejudice against underrepresented and stigmatized groups and highlight the longstanding systemic intersectionality of race, ethnicity, sex and socioeconomic status that perpetuates stigma, specifically among those with mental health and substance use issues.

At Missouri S&T, Henslee teaches Drugs and Behavior, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology in addition to general psychology.

Henslee has earned numerous S&T awards for research, teaching and service, including the 2020 College of Arts, Sciences, and Business Alumni Student Impact Award. She received S&T’s Outstanding Teaching Award in both 2016 and 2017, the Faculty Service Learning Award in 2013 and 2019, and the Faculty Teaching Award in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. In 2012 she was named Sensational Psychology Professor in Missouri by StateStats.org. 

Henslee earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Auburn University in 2008. She also holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Missouri State University and bachelor’s degrees in psychology, biology and chemistry from Drury University. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.