Dean's Welcome

Welcome to the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at Western Kentucky University. It’s a privilege to be the leader of over 4,000 faculty, staff, and students who share my commitment to research, teaching, service, and community engagement.  

We change lives in CHHS by preparing health and human services professionals who will work to improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond.  And we strive to be “an innovative leader in the student-centered, interprofessional, preparation of health and human services professionals by providing students with an inclusive, community-engaged, and interdisciplinary academic experience.”  I look forward to working with all of you as we Climb Higher Together towards this vision. 

As a college, our greatest strength is the depth of our diverse degree programs. We house seven academic units that represent a wide variety of health and human services programs, all unique with innovative research programs and strong ties to the community. In the classroom, we provide a solid foundation that will prepare students to become strong and innovative leaders in their chosen fields. Furthermore, students have access to invaluable experiences in clinics and labs, and through fieldwork and internships at facilities, agencies, and organizations within our region, fostering personal development and engagement in our community and beyond.  

In CHHS, we believe in enhancing the quality of life for our faculty, staff, and students, which is why we implemented the CHHS Student Wellness Experience and the CHHS Wellness Hour in 2022.  Students are taught about the 10 Dimensions of Wellness and self-care so they learn to take care of themselves before they enter professions where they will be taking care of others.  And the CHHS Wellness Hour was implemented to allow our faculty/staff to take an hour each day, in addition to lunch, to perform a wellness activity.    

Currently, there is a high demand for professionals in our health and human services fields.  So, now is an excellent time to join the CHHS family! And for those of you who are CHHS alumni or friends, we invite you to engage with our current students by guest lecturing in a class, providing internships or job opportunities, and/or philanthropic support.   

Finally, I invite you to visit our beautiful campus and to explore our website to learn more about the countless opportunities through each of our programs, organizations, and resources. Come and discover the possibilities and climb to greater heights with us!   

Best Wishes,

 

Tania B. Basta, Ph.D., MPH

Donald R. and Irene S. Dizney Dean of the College of Health and Human Services

Western Kentucky University