Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

MSU President Mark E. Keenum joined College of Forest Resources students, faculty and administrators, as well as campus landscape personnel, in celebrating Arbor Day last Friday [Feb. 12] with a campus tree planting on the Drill Field. In recognition of the university’s commitment to the value and maintenance of trees, MSU has been designated a Tree Campus USA for seven consecutive years by the Arbor Day Foundation. PHOTO: David Ammon | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing

Faculty excellence in architectural education recognized with ACSA’s Collaborative Practice Award
A collaborative garden project led by faculty in Mississippi State’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is receiving national recognition from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Designed and built by MSU architecture, landscape architecture, building construction science and graphic design students over the course of three academic years, “Cultivating the Future: Enabling, Designing, Constructing and Managing a Didactic Garden” is being honored with the ACSA’s Collaborative Practice Award. The award recognizes architectural educators for exemplary work in inspiring and challenging students, contributing to the profession’s knowledge base, and extending their work beyond the borders of academy into practice and the public sector.

Looking for a way to help? Give to the MSU Student Relief Fund
The Mississippi State University community continually exhibits a great sense of responsibility and caring for enrolled students that make the land-grant institution such a special place. The MSU Student Relief Fund, built with private gifts, helps those members of the student body affected with day-to-day crises or like now, the impact to their daily lives posed by COVID-19. The Dean of Students' Office assesses needs and administers the fund for acute crises that may impact students’ ability to succeed academically. The MSU Foundation accepts gifts year-round for the MSU Student Relief Fund. Contributions for this effort can be made online or by contacting the Annual Giving office at (662) 325-2466.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

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Leaders highlight university success and momentum
Mississippi State leaders highlighted the many ways university faculty and staff are moving MSU and the Magnolia State forward during last Tuesday’s [Feb. 9] spring General Faculty meeting. MSU President Mark E. Keenum commended the university community for a successful fall semester as student enrollment continues to reach a record high. He thanked university faculty and staff for continuing to serve students and communities throughout Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have never worked harder in fulfilling our mission of serving this state, serving our students and community,” he said. MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan highlighted the university’s continued growth in research funding.

Coble to lead Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
Keith Coble, William L. Giles Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State, has been named vice president for the university’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine (DAFVM). MSU President Mark E. Keenum made the announcement last week, placing Coble at the helm of MSU’s nationally recognized agriculture and natural resource teaching, research and service efforts. The National Science Foundation ranks MSU in the Top 5 percent nationally for agricultural research. Coble succeeds Reuben Moore, who has served as interim vice president for the division for nearly two years and has announced his impending retirement after decades of service to MSU. Moore will remain on the DAFVM leadership staff during the transition.

RCU’s Hollis joins statewide information technology task force
A Mississippi State education and curriculum leader is being named to a statewide task force aimed at growing Mississippi’s information technology workforce. Shelly Hollis, assistant director of cyber education for the university’s Research and Curriculum Unit, recently was selected to serve on the information technology task force created by C Spire and the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB). C Spire Chief Technology Officer Carla Lewis and SWIB Chairman Patrick Sullivan tapped Hollis, who also leads MSU’s Center for Cyber Education. “Shelly is passionate about computer science education, and the RCU is fortunate to have someone with her vision and passion guiding the Center for Cyber Education,” RCU Director Betsey Smith said.

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