Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

A student walks across the end of the historic Drill Field last week in front of Swalm Chemical Engineering Building. Soon, the area will be filled with thousands of freshmen, returning students, faculty and staff as the fall semester begins with the first day of class on Aug. 20. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

MSU, U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command enhance collaboration through research agreement
A new Mississippi State University and U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command partnership is advancing key technical fields and new technologies in support of the Navy’s defense mission. The research agreement’s focus areas align with the strengths of multiple MSU research centers, including the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Center for Cyber Innovation, Geosystems Research Institute, Raspet Flight Research Lab and the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center. “We are excited to strengthen our collaboration with CNMOC as we work together with industry partners to explore technologies that can help us better understand our ocean environments, our ships and how they impact defense missions,” said MSU Associate Vice President for Research Narcisa Pricope.

International Research Development Office promotes Fulbright program, demonstrates MSU mission through collaboration
A coalition of Mississippi State University faculty members and research administrators gathered this month for Fulbright Faculty and Administrator Coffee and Conversations, a strategic forum to explore how MSU can best support Fulbright engagement across disciplines and career stages. Participants in the International Research Development Office-led event shared candid insights about current barriers and proposed new strategies for enhancing pre-application guidance, mentoring opportunities, policy clarity and greater awareness of Fulbright pathways for both faculty and staff. Professor Peter Allen of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture shared his experience as a Fulbright Scholar in Chile, underscoring not only the academic benefits of the program but also its broader value in building cross-cultural understanding and long-term professional networks.

Southern rock legend Marshall Tucker Band to perform at MSU Riley Center
A legendary, multi-platinum selling Southern rock group brings its iconic sound to the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian this month. The Marshall Tucker Band, known for timeless classics including “Can’t You See” and “Heard It in a Love Song,” has been a driving force in American music since its 1972 founding in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Tickets for the Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. performance are limited and can be purchased by visiting www.msurileycenter.com or by calling the box office at 601-696-2200. Blending rock, country and blues, the Marshall Tucker Band’s signature sound continues to inspire audiences across generations.

Upcoming part-time jobs fair links students to positions across campus, community
The Mississippi State Career Center is sponsoring a part-time jobs fair for students seeking positions on campus and in the surrounding community. The event, scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 22 in Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom, will feature employers seeking students for part-time, volunteer and research positions. If you or any of your reporting units are anticipating an opening for a student worker, research assistant or graduate assistant, please consider participating in this event. More than 800 students attended last year’s event looking for employment, which serves as a great way to connect to the university’s QEP efforts. The deadline to register is Aug. 13. Departments can register by visiting https://msstate-csm.symplicity.com/events/PartTimeFA25.

Airport shuttle departure schedule adjusted to meet airline baggage check changes
A 45-minute cutoff for checking baggage with Delta and American airlines has changed the express shuttle times offered by Mississippi State Transportation to Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The GTRA express shuttle now departs The Mill at MSU two hours before flight time and arrives at the airport one and a half hours before flight time. This is 30 minutes earlier than the previous schedule. Shuttle pickups from the Starkville campus and hotels along Highway 12 also can be scheduled with MSU if reservations are made at least 24 hours prior to the requested departure time from these locations. This service is available by emailing GTRShuttle@transportation.msstate.edu or calling 662-325-5204.

Free learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning available to faculty, staff and students
Sharpen skills. Explore new interests. Increase professional value. These and other results are now available via no-cost learning opportunities to Mississippi State faculty, staff and students through MSU’s agreement with LinkedIn Learning. A popular, online education platform, LinkedIn Learning’s 20,000-plus courses are available to campus via a quick login using their MSU NetID email addresses. With self-paced learning, courses are presented in various formats, including bite-sized video, audio only and in-depth content. The platform is directly integrated with Canvas, the university’s learning management system. MSU faculty can use it to supplement course material or even develop and load their own content onto the platform.

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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Campus preparing to welcome thousands next week
Mississippi State University is preparing to welcome thousands of new Bulldogs to campus next week, with the most impact to normal campus operations being Wednesday [Aug. 13] through Friday [Aug. 15]. Over these three days approximately 4,500 students, along with their families, will be arriving for move-in days. A smile, a friendly greeting, or simply offering directions can go a long way in creating a strong first impression for new Bulldog families and set the tone for a successful transition to college life for our incoming students. Please anticipate and plan for significant short-term disruptions to normal parking availability, increased congestion on campus roadways, and road closures, particularly near residence halls and designated move-in routes.

Gangishetty earns $550K NSF CAREER award to advance LED technology
A Mississippi State University faculty member has earned a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award to develop the next generation of energy-efficient, transparent and environmentally friendly LED lighting. Mahesh K. Gangishetty, an MSU assistant professor with appointments in both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded the five-year, $550,000 grant to support innovative research into new types of light-emitting diodes made from safer, earth-abundant materials -- specifically, a class of compounds called ternary copper halides. Unlike many existing LEDs, which rely on expensive rare-earth metals or toxic materials, copper halides offer more accessible and safer alternatives.

Mulvaney elected as national leader on American Society of Agronomy board
Mississippi State University agronomist Mike Mulvaney has been elected to the American Society of Agronomy’s Board of Directors, where he will serve as the Certified Crop Advisor, or CCA, representative beginning in 2026. Mulvaney, the university’s Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy and associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, will represent over 13,000 CCAs across the U.S. and Canada for a three-year period. In Mississippi, he also directs the state’s CCA program and manages a strong research and extension portfolio focused on helping producers with science-based solutions to increase agronomic efficiency for soybean production. Since joining MSU in 2021, Mulvaney has led a dynamic research team focused on applied agronomy, sustainability and on-farm impact.

Executive Council updates numerous policies
The Mississippi State Executive Council met last week and approved updates for a number of policies, including HRM 60.225: Tuition Remission-Employees and HRM 60.226 Tuition Remission-Dependent Children of Employees, OP 70.08: Time and Effort Reporting, OP 79.11: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems/Model Aircraft, OP 95.501: Traffic and Parking Rules and Regulations, and OP 91.208: Hazing. The new OP 91.131: Military-Connected Student Benefits and Resources was approved. The Executive Council also voted to rescind OP 56.03: Sharing and Handling of Major Expenses of Jointly Occupied Buildings.