Women’s College in Missouri Partners With Healthcare Firm to Produce Mental Health Professionals

Stephens College, a liberals arts educational institution for women in Columbia, Missouri, has entered into an agreement with Burrell Behavioral Health, the second-largest behavioral health center in Missouri, to develop behavioral and mental health professionals to serve in central Missouri. Burrell has more than 130 licensed providers offering a full continuum of care in areas such as individual therapy and counseling, addiction recovery, psychiatric and medication management, educational and therapeutic groups, and crisis intervention.

Under the agreement, Burrell will actively recruit Stephens students, particularly those majoring in psychology. In addition Burrell employees will be able to pursue a master’s degree in counseling through Stephens College graduate programs.

Stephens College President Dianne Lynch stated that “Stephens College is exceeding pleased to be working with Burrell. Burrell is recognized for their demonstrated commitment to our community and their employees. Our students will benefit from direct access to this premier local employer. Our counseling program will be enhanced by the Burrell students sharing their experiences. And the mid-Missouri community will benefit from an increase in highly qualified behavioral health professionals.”

Dianne Lynch became the 24^th president of Stephens College in June 2009. Previously she served as dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in New York. Earlier, Dr. Lynch was a faculty member and chair of the department of journalism at Saint Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont.

President Lynch earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a Ph.D. in art history and communications from McGill University in Montreal.