Pittsburg, Kansas — Dr. Carol Meza-Bakke, an Advisory Board member and SMVF program advisor for Crawford County Mental Health Center (CCMHC), has been appointed to the Governor’s Military Council by Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly.
The Governor’s Military Council serves as a key partner with local communities, legislators, members of the Kansas congressional delegation, as well as business and military leaders to grow and optimize the military presence in Kansas, including recruitment and retention of new missions and force structure. It works to leverage this growth into additional defense related jobs. The 26-member council fosters cooperation between the installations and private and public sectors, and pursues initiatives to enhance the quality of life for all military personnel, active and retired. The council assists in the development, coordination, and execution of strategy required by any future change in missions proposed by the Department of Defense.
“I am deeply honored to have received an appointment to the Governor’s Military Council, which will allow me to contribute to the well-being of our veteran population — a cause my husband and I are profoundly passionate about,” stated Dr. Meza-Bakke.
Dr. Meza-Bakke brings a wealth of military experience to her new position after dedicating 12 years of service to the U.S. Army, including a deployment to Iraq from 2010 until 2011 during the Iraq War. While deployed, she earned both the esteemed Purple Heart medal and Combat Action Badge in recognition of her exceptional contributions and bravery in the line of duty. Dr. Meza-Bakke served the U.S. Army from 2007 until 2019.
A first generation college graduate, Dr. Meza-Bakke earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Pittsburg State University and a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Kansas. She recently graduated with her Ph.D. in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, where she successfully defended her dissertation titled “Experiences and Coping Mechanisms of Active-Duty Women, Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma Who Sough Mental Health Services Within the Civilian Sector: A Thematic Analysis.”
Dr. Meza-Bakke currently serves Pittsburg State University as their Social Work Field Director, while also serving CCMHC as an Advisory Board member as well as an advisor and consultant to the Service Members, Veteran, and Family (SMVF) program — providing valuable insight from her twelve years of military service.
“In this new role with the Governor’s Military Council I aspire to not only proudly represent the veteran community, but to also serve as a dedicated ambassador for Pittsburg State University and Crawford County Mental Health Center,” said Dr. Meza-Bakke.
Crawford County Mental Health Center has been serving the mental health needs of Crawford County since 1961, offering adult, children, crisis, and substance use services. For more information, please call 620-231-5130 or visit www.crawfordmentalhealth.org.