Diana Malott honored with Outstanding Service Award from Midwestern Higher Education Compact

LAWRENCE, KS; MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Diana Malott director of the Watkins Health Services located at the University of Kansas, received the Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s (MHEC) Outstanding Service Award on November 9, during the commission’s Annual Commission Meeting, held virtually due to the pandemic.

Malott was nominated for her leadership and commitment to student health as a member of MHEC’s Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee and for her support of MHEC’s student health program MHECare.

“Diana has been critical in shaping and creating MHEC’s student health program,” said Susan Heegaard, MHEC president. “Her diligence and commitment led to the Kansas Board of Regents’ institutions joining as founding members of the program.”

One of four regional higher education compacts in the United States, MHEC brings together midwestern states to develop and support best practices, collaborative efforts, and cost-sharing opportunities. Through these efforts it works to ensure strong, equitable postsecondary educational opportunities and outcomes for all.

University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod stated, “I am thrilled for Diana to receive the MHEC Outstanding Service Award. Students and healthcare providers at KU and across the region have undoubtedly benefited from Diana’s leadership. She has been instrumental in helping KU respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and continue our strong legacy of student health care. It is heartening to see her dedicated service being recognized by her peers.”

Malott has served as a committee member for over eleven years. Her public support has been instrumental in MHEC’s current bid process with prospective providers. Additionally, she was integral with discussion and ultimate action of expanding MHEC’s technology contracts and programs of insurance to the Southern Regional Education Board.

"About eleven or twelve years ago, I received an interesting call, wanting to talk with me about something called MHEC, wondering if I would be interested in working with a committee to develop a student health insurance plan," said Malott. "Little did I know that our relationship would last this long and how much I would come to appreciate and respect MHEC’s efforts."

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About MHEC
VISION: MHEC members collaborate to address the region’s most pressing challenges in higher education and transform educational opportunities so that people and communities thrive.
MISSION: MHEC brings together midwestern states to develop and support best practices, collaborative efforts, and cost-sharing opportunities. Through these efforts it works to ensure strong, equitable postsecondary educational opportunities and outcomes.
HOW MHEC WORKS: MHEC’s strategic approach highlights member states’ strong desire for collaboration, effectiveness, and efficiency. MHEC believes that collaborative actions informed by research and best practices are the catalyst for improving quality, accessibility, relevance, and affordability of postsecondary educational opportunities. MHEC does this primarily through the following approaches: convenings, programs, research, and cost-savings contracts. Increasingly, MHEC looks to leverage these approaches in conjunction with each other to serve its strategic priorities.
MEMBER STATES: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. www.mhec.org