The Susan Mills-Gray Impact on Communities Health Award recognizes a University of Missouri Extension regional faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in directing policy, systems, and environmental change efforts to improve the health of a community. , county or region. Susan Mills-Gray, a former state nutrition and health specialist, established this award when she retired in 2021. The award’s inaugural recipient is Dent County Extension Community Development Specialist Sarah Hultine Massengale.
Massengale has been instrumental in the creation and development of the Council for a Healthy Dent County, a local 501c(3) non-profit organization in Dent County. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to partner with the community to improve the health and quality of life for area residents. Massengale, as the Community Development Specialist for Dent County, has been a great partner and resource to the organization since 2010. She has been a founding board member of the organization and continues to serve and guide the board and staff.