WKU News

Western Kentucky University (WKU) celebrated the opening of the WKU College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Community Health Sciences Complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house today. 

The CHHS Community Health Sciences Complex, located at 2355 Nashville Road in Bowling Green, houses several applied research centers focused on public health, child welfare, healthy aging, workplace health, rural health, and more. The complex will play a key role in advancing community health initiatives and addressing critical issues in health and wellness.

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni, said, “As we position WKU to move to an R2 institution, spaces like this will prove essential in supporting Ph.D. students and increasing research productivity, which, in turn, will increase the recruitment and retention of faculty and students.”

President Caboni acknowledged CHHS Dean Tania Basta for recognizing an important opportunity to rethink and reimagine South Campus as a collaborative hub, where strategically co-located entities work together to tackle local health challenges, elevate interdisciplinary research for faculty and students, and increase accessibility for the community.

Dean Basta said, “I am thrilled that our vision for an interdisciplinary applied-learning space for our faculty and students has come to fruition.  As many of you know, it is often difficult to invite community members to participate in research or receive health services at our main campus because parking is limited.  Our Community Health Sciences Complex allows for community access with available parking and transportation on the city and campus bus lines.”

Key Centers and Resources within the Complex:

• LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research (LCCWEAR)
  Focuses on child welfare education and research, including a Child Welfare Analytics Collaborative, Training Resource Center, and an Integrated Family Trauma Treatment Clinic.
  Contact: Dr. Austin Griffiths (Austin.griffiths@wku.edu)
• Center for Applied Science in Health and Aging (CASHA)
  CASHA facilitates applied research to enhance health and vitality in the aging community to advance research, policy, practice, and program development. Members of CASHA collaborate with community and university partners to address aging-related needs, and secure funding through grants, contracts, partnerships, and commercialization. 
  Contact: Dr. Mark Schafer (Mark.schafer@wku.edu)
• Center for Environmental and Workplace Health (CEWH)
  Focuses on improving health outcomes in environmental and workplace settings.
  Contacts: Dr. Gretchen Macy (Gretchen.macy@wku.edu) and Edrisa Sanyang (Edrisa.sanyang@wku.edu)
• Institute for Rural Health
  Dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of rural and under-served populations in Kentucky.
  Contacts: Dr. Kim Link (Kim.link@wku.edu) and Dr. Qingfang Song (Qingfang.song@wku.edu)
• WKU CPR Training Center
  Provides life-saving training and certification for students, faculty, and the broader community.
  Contact: Gerita Cook (Gerita.cook@wku.edu)
• EMPOWER Lab
  Enhancing Motherhood and Pregnancy Outcomes for Women through Exercise Research
  Contact: Dr. Rachel Tinius (Rachel.tinius@wku.edu)

More information about the CHHS Applied Research Centers may be found at www.wku.edu/chhsresearch.