Pictured from left to right:

(Front Row) April Ward, IPC Administrative Support Specialist, Mary Strong, Clinical Social Worker, Virginia Currie, IPC Administrative Support Specialist, Martie Thompson, Professor of Health & Exercise Science, Kate Divoll, IHHS University Program Associate, Gary McCullough, Professor, and Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Education

(Second Row) Tandrea Carter, Director of Counseling for Faculty & Staff & Ombud, Laura Bogardus IHHS Executive Director, Heidi Tait, IHHS Education and Outreach Coordinator (Third Row) Tracey Weston, HPFS Administrative Support Specialist, Amber Chapman IHHS Fall Prevention Program Manager, Mary Sheryl Horine, IHHS Director of Education & Outreach, McKenzie Hellman, IHHS Health & Wellness Coordinator, Bryan Belcher, Interprofessional Clinic Director

Working with colleagues across Appalachian State University and our region to train students in the context of serving people to enhance health and wellness is really what we are all about in the IHHS. We support colleagues on our faculty and staff across the university and support our community with clinical and outreach programs, along with research. And we are proud of our accomplishments in 2022–much of which we shared in our last issue of the newsletter. Reflecting back on our successes, as well as challenges, has been enlightening and has helped us as we start to look ahead to 2023. We would like to highlight a few things to look forward to and maybe mark on your calendars!

Our Aging Well program will be continuing with:

• Ongoing health screenings and assessments that can be scheduled any day of the week by contacting us at (828) 262-8658 or emailing [email protected]. 
• Support for individuals and families for accessing care related to mental and physical health, including resources and referrals across the High Country.
• Educational programming through our Aging Academy.
• Look for workshops coming up on February 10, March 10, and April 14 at 3:00pm at Levine Hall of Health Sciences. All workshops are free and will have refreshments. Each session is designed to provide helpful tips and resources for people ages 50+, their caregivers and students.
• Matter of Balance and Tai Chi Fall Prevention classes ongoing across the High Country in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging and other community partners.

Graduates of the 10-week Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Program and their instructor Amber Chapman, IHHS Fall Prevention Project Manager, showing the symbol for peace, humility, strength & wisdom.

Support for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities:

• The HUB for Diversities Resource Center will continue to provide books, sensory materials, navigation assistance, IEP support, nutrition counseling, and family connection, guidance and advocacy. Located at 400 University Hall Drive, Room 174, this center is open Tuesday and Thursday 10 am - 2 pm, and Monday, Wednesday and Friday by appointment. Call ahead to ensure we are open at (828) 262-2910. 
• Camp Crinkleroot will be held on March 31-April 2 for kids ages 8-14 with an autism diagnosis, and their siblings! Location and details TBD.

Ongoing clinical support across our affiliated clinics:

• The Charles and Geneva S. Scott Scottish Rite Communication Disorders Clinic, the App State Music Therapy Clinic, and the App State Psychology Clinic will continue to provide services in one or both of our locations at University Hall and Leon Levine Hall throughout 2023.
• Our social work team of licensed social workers and students will continue to support all our clients through integrated services. And this list of classes and support services will be growing significantly in 2023.

And, of course, we will continue to work with our academic programs and community partners to train the next generation of providers. 

We plan to increase student opportunities across our programs in 2023 and continue to provide them with hands on, interprofessional training that will support their education and keep them working for everyone across the High Country.

And we would be remiss if we did not point out our ongoing services for the faculty and staff who make everything we do possible. We will continue to serve them through Health Promotion for Faculty & Staff and Counseling for Faculty & Staff with programs supporting their mental and physical health, including prevention services such as blood chemistry screenings, mammograms, nutrition counseling, and classes for physical and mental health and education.

As we mentioned in our last newsletter, we are experiencing a number of exciting changes in the IHHS; and, without a doubt, one of the most exciting is the hiring of our new Executive Director. Gary McCullough has served in this role for the past 8.5 years and will continue to work with the IHHS in his ongoing role as Associate Dean in the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The growth in the IHHS simply warranted a dedicated, full-time Executive Director. And we are excited to now share a bit about her with you.

Laura Bogardus, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, is originally from Michigan. She earned a BA in Political Science from Miami University (Ohio), an MA in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College (South Carolina), and a Ph.D. in International Family and Community Studies from Clemson University (South Carolina). At Clemson, she was the recipient of the Excellence in Engagement and Social Advocacy Graduate Student Award; the Kimbrough and Melton Parents Award; and the Graduate Student Award of Excellence.

A resident of South Carolina for nearly 25 years, Laura was the founder and president of Noble Aim Consulting (and Bogardus Consulting prior to that), an organization that provided strategic development consulting services to community coalitions, public/private partnerships, government organizations, and non-profit organizations. Laura is dedicated to finding ways to bridge communication gaps within communities. She is an established professional in the fields of organizational development, human resources, and workforce development, and regularly facilitates community coalitions to achieve systems-level change. Laura received the Greenville Society for Human Resources Unsung Hero Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2022. A distinguished Marano Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Sector Skills Academy for Innovative Workforce Strategies, Laura is also a Certified Senior Human Resource Professional, a Prosci® Certified Change Management Practitioner, and is formally trained in the process of civil mediation.

“I am thrilled to be joining the IHHS team at App State!,” said Bogardus. “I look forward to connecting with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders, and volunteers in and around Northwestern NC to support and enhance the area’s health and well-being. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish

together!”

 Thank you all for helping us contribute what we could to making 2022 a healthier year—mind and body—in the High Country and training a brand new cohort of health professionals to serve our region. Individually, we all contribute in various ways to our communities. Collectively, we create lasting impact.

Preparing, Partnering, Preventing

We look forward to continuing to prepare our future healthcare professionals, partner with people and organizations like you and yours, and help bolster health and wellness while preventing the most negative consequences that can arise from neglected health disparities.

Happy Holidays

&

Happy New Year