Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Tony McGee, left, and Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum signed a memorandum of understanding last week outlining plans for a new high school on the MSU campus. PHOTO: Emily Grace McCall | Public Affairs

Bagley College of Engineering honors faculty, staff and students with annual awards
The Mississippi State University Bagley College of Engineering has announced its recipients of its annual college awards. Each year, the Bagley College recognizes outstanding faculty, staff, and students who have distinguished themselves through research, academics, or service to the university. This year's honorees are Matthew Priddy, Julie Jessop, Jenna Johnson, Jean Mohammadi-Aragh, George Trawick, Kristen Polk, Dee Newell, Sabyasachi Biswas and William Mayfield.

MSU receives $1.25 million NSF grant to support resilient, affordable housing development for Mississippi rural communities
A cross-collaborative team of Mississippi State and Tufts University School of Engineering faculty is receiving a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant to promote and develop resilient and affordable housing in rural communities. “Many areas in Mississippi are vulnerable to natural disasters and these places also have residents whose quality of life is significantly affected by their housing circumstances,” said Principal Investigator Nazanin Tajik, MSU Bagley College of Engineering assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “With this grant, we can take steps to improve the lives of Mississippians, especially those in rural areas, by helping communities manage how and where they develop housing.”

AI Legislative Task Force meets at MSU, tours research centers at the forefront of technology
The Artificial Intelligence Legislative Task Force chaired by state Sen. Bart Williams of Starkville and state Rep. Jill Ford of Madison held its September meeting at Mississippi State last Thursday [Sept. 25], gaining insight on how the university supports the state’s position as a national and global technology and innovation leader. MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan is an ex-officio member of the AI Legislative Task Force and helped lead tours of key university research centers for the visitors. Jordan said Mississippi is now in a coveted position thanks to foresight of leaders who invested in infrastructure over the past decades. She said the state has invested in supercomputing data centers and the cutting-edge technology needed to move forward quickly in the age of AI.

MSU Extension launches Walk Mississippi challenge
A new exercise and nutrition initiative is challenging Mississippians to improve their health and fitness, one step at a time. Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy... One Step at a Time is a six-week wellness program developed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service that encourages youth and adults to be more physically active and adopt healthier nutritional habits. The objective is for everyone who signs up to virtually walk 180 miles (the equivalent of the width of Mississippi), learn strategies and tips from MSU Extension’s Walk-a-Weigh wellness program, and improve dietary and lifestyle behaviors. This no-cost program officially begins Oct. 11 and wraps up on Nov. 21.

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 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.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

SOCSD, MSU sign MOU to work together toward new high school near Partnership Middle School
Mississippi State and Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District have formally outlined their intentions to work “in close coordination and cooperation” toward a new high school on the university campus. The proposed school will be located in proximity to Partnership Middle School, the nation’s only public school housed on a university campus serving every middle school student in the district. It has benefited students, teachers and teachers-in-training, as well as education researchers, since its 2020 opening. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and SOCSD Superintendent Tony McGee signed a memorandum of understanding last Thursday [Sept. 25] recognizing the “resounding success” and national acclaim for the Partnership School and stating the parties’ plan to expand their work to replace the district’s outdated Starkville High School with a state-of-the-art facility to also provide “outstanding educational experiences for all students.”

MSU celebrates ribbon cutting at Wolf River Coastal Forest Research and Education Center
Mississippi State leaders and partners gathered last week for a ribbon cutting at the Wolf River Coastal Forest Research and Education Center to celebrate the land that will help protect water quality, provide wildlife habitat and fill a gap in watershed conservation efforts along the Mississippi coast. The coastal forestland property spans 14,000 acres across parts of Harrison and Hancock counties and is now under strategic management by MSU’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center. “The Wolf River property has been under the excellent stewardship of Weyerhaeuser, which managed it as a sustainable commercial forest for decades. It will now provide great opportunities for our students to learn about forest and wildlife management and water conservation in coastal ecosystems, while faculty research will assist local landowners and the forestry industry,” said Wes Burger, dean of MSU’s College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center.

Burger earns national Excellence in Wildlife Education Award
A Mississippi State faculty member and undergraduate coordinator is being recognized nationally for her distinguished career of teaching, mentoring and preparing students for success in natural resource management. Leslie Burger, MSU Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture associate teaching professor, will receive The Wildlife Society’s Excellence in Wildlife Education Award Oct. 5 during the organization’s annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta. Burger has taught and mentored students across multiple levels, including youth, undergraduates and graduate students interested in conservation careers. Her teaching often emphasizes practical skills, career readiness and professional growth. Burger said she’s humbled by the recognition and grateful for the opportunity to help students find their path in conservation.