Peck receives doctor of philosophy

Marlys Peck, of Cole Camp, received a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Missouri on May 16.

She was one of 558 graduates who received a doctoral degree at MU, after she successfully defended her dissertation titled “A Study on the Relationship of Death Anxiety and the Completion of Advance Directives for Oncology Social Workers.”

After graduating from Cole Camp High School in 1982, she was received a bachelor degree in social work in 1992 and a master degree in social work in 1993, both from MU.

She is an assistant professor of social work at the University of Central Missouri. She teaches courses on social work practice, communities and organizations, field observation, research and human behavior in the social environment. Her previous work experience includes medical social work, with an emphasis in oncology, and her research interests lie in the areas of medical social work, end of life issues, nursing homes and the aging population.

A graduation celebration for Dr. Peck and her two sons was held May 17 at the home of Crystal Schumaker in Columbia.

Chitamawe Mulwanda received a master of education degree from Johns Hopkins University and teaches high school English in the Baltimore City Public School System, Baltimore, Md.

Zondwayo Mulwanda received a bachelor of science in family social science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and will be moving to Charlotte, N.C., to begin working with Teach for America.

Earl and Barbara Peck, of Ionia, are the parents of Peck and the grandparents of Chitamawe and Zondwayo.