Elise Crain’s commitment to making the world and our community a better place will be recognized at Commencement on May 15, 2015, with an Honorary Doctorate from MSU.  Congratulations Dr. Crain!

From the NewsLeader, December 15, 2014:

Missouri State University has selected longtime volunteer Elise Crain and attorney Tom Strong to receive honorary degrees during the May 15 commencement ceremony.The two were nominated for the doctor of public affairs degrees by the faculty senate and President Clif Smart. The nominations were approved Fridayby the MSU Board of Governors.
Cynthia Hail, chair of the honorary doctorate selection committee, explained why the two were chosen.  “Both are respected community leaders, willing volunteers, role models, and advocates for families and others in crisis, and inspirations for public service. We look forward to their participation at spring commencement,” she said, in a news release.

Crain was praised for her work with education and children, specifically helping to found the Ozark Care to Learn program, which works to meet the health, hunger and hygeine needs of children in that school district. She volunteers as well, according to a news release.
She has been grants director for the Women in Need of the Ozarks program, a not-for-profit organization for single working women who need one-time assistance during a crisis.
The longtime volunteer has also helped the Friends of the Christian County Museum, Ozarks Public Television, EarthShare Missouri, Missouri Preservation, the Discovery Center and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
She also was the founding (and continuing) governor of the Finley River Community Foundation, responsible for distributing over $120,000 in grants to organizations and individuals in need in Christian county.