Hope Has A Hometown

Every year in May—Mental Health Awareness Month—we are reminded that seeking help is an act of bravery, and supporting others is a calling. At a time when rural Oregon faces a profound shortage of mental health professionals, Eastern Oregon University is rising to meet the need with innovative programs that deliver compassion, resolve, and a deep commitment to the region and the students it serves.

For recent EOU graduate Kate Gekeler, ’22, ’25, the urgency of this work is personal. One of the first students to earn a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) at EOU, Gekeler stood with Governor Kotek, legislators and behavioral health leaders in August 2025 to take part in a bill signing that supported funding for developing the state’s behavioral healthcare workforce. But she wasn’t there for politics. She was there for the people at home.

“I’m excited to represent our community,” Gekeler said. “This is important to our community, where mental health services are not always available.”

EOU launched the CMHC program in 2023 to expand the behavioral health workforce, particularly to serve rural areas where care is often hours away. Its design allows students to remain in their hometowns, learning where they plan to live, work, and give back. For many, scholarships make that path possible.

“I wouldn’t be a behavioral health provider without tuition support,” Gekeler said. Midway through her program, Gekeler’s daughter urgently needed a new wheelchair. Without scholarship support, she said she would have had to choose between continuing her education and buying essential medical equipment. “I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t have to make that choice,” said Gekeler.

Support from the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization and Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., created much-needed scholarships for students committed to remaining in rural Oregon. Their investments ensure those who understand these communities best are the ones trained to serve them.

Today, Gekeler is a school-based mental health therapist in Union County—one of many EOU students hired before graduating because the need is so great.

“Hiring students who are eager to learn on the job is one way to meet community needs,” she said.

EOU President Kelly Ryan sees the impact every day. “Our graduates are already making an impact right here at home.”

In eastern Oregon, where miles stretch long, and access stretches thin, EOU is answering the call. One counselor, one student, one life-changing conversation at a time.

“When we invest in people,” Gekeler said, “we invest in the communities they’ll serve.”