Nebraska artist Barbara Laging explores human psychological and social interactions through her art. She made this subject the focus of her master’s thesis in sculpture and interior design at Kansas State University. In her roles as a teacher and art director at the Lincoln Regional Center, a state psychiatric hospital in Nebraska, Laging’s work encompassed family counseling, art therapy, and interior design for assisted living and rehabilitation centers.

A student who wishes to study issues similar to those Laging addressed through her art and psychology work might enroll in courses within Kansas State University’s College of Human Ecology, formerly known as Home Economics. The current college includes the Center on Aging, the School of Family Studies and Human Services, and the Departments of Gerontology, Hospitality Management; Kinesiology; Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design; and Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Health.