DR. RENEE MOORE, second from left, professor of child and family development at Missouri State University-West Plains, received the Faculty Excellence in Public Affairs Award during the Missouri State University Board of Governors meeting Thursday, May 14, in Springfield. The award is given to a full-time faculty member who excels at carrying out the university’s public affairs mission. Moore was recognized for her service to the West Plains community through various capacities, including her work on the board of the South Central Child Advocacy Center, the Samaritan Outreach Center’s Can Film Festival, the University of Missouri Extension, Heart of the Ozarks United Way, Missouri Department of Social Services Child Care Advisory Committee, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Child Care Licensing Rule Revision Workgroup, and many other groups and organizations. In addition, she encourages student participation in community improvement events, such as the development and local implementation of the nationally recognized Poverty Simulation Project and Read While You Wait program, to name a few. She received a plaque and $1,500 grant to be used toward travel and/or research related to her public affairs work. With her above are, from left, Missouri State University Board of Governors member Virginia Fry, Springfield; Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett; and Board of Governors Student Member Caleb Doyle, Barnhart. Fry and Doyle served on the award’s faculty selection committee. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)