The College of Education & Human Development’s Office of Advancement has established two new faculty fellowships with investments from a generous donor.

The two new fellowships are the Margaret McLaughlin Faculty Fellowship in School Mental Health and the Dr. Lydia Walker Faculty Fellowship in Reading and Literacy Education.

Margaret McLaughlin Faculty Fellowship in School Mental Health

Wendy Reinke is the first recipient of the Margaret McLaughlin Faculty Fellowship in School Mental Health.

Alumna Margaret McLaughlin (EdSp `83), established this fellowship after retiring from a long career in education as a counseling coordinator for Raytown Public Schools. She is passionate about how school environments must support the mental health needs of children.

The McLaughlin Fellowship recognizes a leader in the field of educational, school or counseling psychology, with preference given to those who demonstrate a history of community outreach and engagement and/or advocacy for K-12 counseling needs.

Reinke is an Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at Mizzou and Professor of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology in the College of Education & Human Development. She is the Co-Director of the Missouri Prevention Science Institute, Co-Principal Investigator and Evaluation Consultant for the Family Access Center of Excellence (FACE), and is an affiliated faculty member with the Boone County Schools Mental Health Coalition. 

Her expertise is in the prevention and treatment of childhood emotional and behavioral disorders, positive behavioral intervention and supports, school-based consultation and family based interventions.

Dr. Lydia Walker Faculty Fellowship in Reading and Literacy Education

Angie Zapata is the first recipient of the Dr. Lydia Walker Faculty Fellowship in Reading and Literacy Education.

Alumna Margaret McLaughlin (EdSp `83) established this fund in memory of her partner, alumna Lydia Walker (PhD `84, M Ed `69) who dedicated her life to literacy education. The fellowship is awarded to a member of the faculty who has demonstrated leadership in the advancement of reading education and literacy among school-aged children.

Angie Zapata is an Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum in the College of Education & Human Development. She is the co-founder of the Missouri Language and Literacies Center and is the primary investigator on large grants that seek to improve early childhood language and literacy experiences in Missouri classrooms through teacher inquiry and development.

Her current research grants include leading the work on Family, Community, and Emergent Literacy professional development as part of a comprehensive state literacy program funded by the Department of Education, and a Foundation for Child Development grant focused on Teacher and Researcher Collaborative Inquiry as Ongoing Professional Development with a focus on Improving Early Childhood Experiences In Racially, Linguistically, and Ethnically Complex Missouri Classrooms.