A team of Culver-Stockton College faculty members has led the successful reestablishment of the Missouri Counseling Association (MCA), marking a major achievement for Culver-Stockton College and the counseling profession statewide. The association, which dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been officially reinstated as a nonprofit state branch of the American Counseling Association.
The newly elected officers—Dr. Angel Knoverek (President), Dr. Mark Vander Ley (Treasurer), and Danielle Hamilton, MA (Secretary)—are all Culver-Stockton College faculty members. Together, they bring extensive academic and clinical expertise to their leadership roles, and their efforts reflect the college’s deep commitment to community engagement and mental health advocacy.
“By strengthening the counseling profession, MCA will enhance the quality of mental health services available to individuals and families, contributing to healthier and more resilient communities,” said Dr. Knoverek, who is also a licensed counselor for more than 25 years.
Knoverek first identified the need to revive the MCA while advising students in Culver-Stockton’s new Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) program. After reviewing Missouri licensure regulations and learning that the MCA had disbanded, she and her colleagues began a year-long effort to bring the association back to life.
The MCA is now fully operational and working in collaboration with other state branches in the Midwest Region to offer continuing education opportunities and support for professional counselors.
Adding a creative and interdisciplinary dimension to the project, the association’s branding was developed by Victorya Knoverek, a senior at Culver-Stockton College majoring in both graphic design and psychology. Victorya, who is also a first-year student in the MAC program, chose the MCA branding as her senior graphic design capstone project, taught by C-SC faculty member Sally Kintz.
Her work is now being used across MCA’s social media platforms and official correspondence,
with plans to implement the branding across the organization’s website in the near future.
“We’re proud that the relaunch of the MCA is not only faculty-led but also features the creative work of one of our outstanding students,” Vander Lay added. “Victorya’s interdisciplinary perspective has given the association a fresh and professional visual identity as we reconnect with counselors across Missouri.”
The Missouri Counseling Association’s mission is to promote the development of professional counselors, provide advocacy in the field, and raise awareness around ethical and culturally inclusive best practices. Its vision is to enhance the quality of life for Missourians by supporting the counseling profession.
For more information or to set up an interview with one of the faculty team, contact C-SC Marketing & Public Relations at 573-288-6000, ext. 6728, or via email at pr@culver.edu.
About Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill overlooking the Mississippi River, was founded in 1853 by members of the Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 21 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse student organizations, and many campus-life events.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.