Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State has received a top national honor for its quality collegiate soccer field. The Sports Field Management Association named MSU’s soccer pitch as the top college and university soccer field in the country for 2024. The awards are chosen by a panel of judges that score entries based on playability, appearance, utilization of innovative solutions, effective use of budget and implementation, or a comprehensive program. Pictured at the 36th annual SFMA conference in Palm Springs, California, are MSU Associate Director of Athletic Grounds Brandon Hardin, SFMA Board Past President Sun Roesslein and MSU Sports Turf Specialist Hayes McMullen.

Little’s Spanish course earns international Quality Matters certification mark
Mississippi State’s Spanish I course, taught by Instructor Chris Little in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, is now an internationally recognized Qualify Matters-certified curriculum. The QM designation is the result of Little’s commitment in completing the rigorous review process and continuous improvement as seen in the innovative work of the instructional design team in MSU’s Center for Distance Education. The class now appears in the QM directory of certified courses with the distinguishable online and blended course design quality mark. Tracy Craven, CDE associate director, said Little is dedicated to creating learning environments that provide learners with a clear pathway to success.

MSU to host faculty and staff expo on co-curricular experiences and student success
Mississippi State University’s Division of Student Affairs and Division of Access, Opportunity and Success are hosting Creating Co-Curricular Experiences: A Faculty and Staff Research and Collaboration Expo for MSU faculty and research affiliates on Tuesday [Feb. 18]. The expo, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom, is an opportunity for faculty to connect with the wide range of programs, services and activities offered through the divisions -- resources that can enhance experiential learning and enrich student development both in and outside the classroom.

MSU celebrates Black History Month with arts events, Shackouls lecture
From art exhibits and line dancing to a lecture on artificial intelligence’s future roles in the humanities, Mississippi State is celebrating Black History Month with numerous events throughout February. Event sponsors include MSU’s African American Studies Program, Department of Art, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Website provides support, resources for free speech
Mississippi State offers a website dedicated to supporting and promoting freedom of speech and expression within our university. You can access the website at www.freespeech.msstate.edu. This platform has been created to provide accessible resources and guidance to foster a campus environment where open dialogue, respectful debate and diverse perspectives can thrive. All members of the MSU community -- students, faculty and staff -- are encouraged to explore this site and take advantage of the materials and opportunities it offers. Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of free speech principles, enhance your ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue or learn more about your rights and responsibilities, this resource is here to support you.

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.

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

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Mississippi State again highlighted among Forbes ‘America’s Best Large Employers’
Mississippi State University again is among several prestigious and well-respected organizations highlighted on Forbes’ 2025 list of “America’s Best Large Employers.” Mississippi State is the top SEC comprehensive academic campus listed, apart from the medical center at the University of Tennessee. MSU joins top IT services corporations, healthcare agencies, car manufacturers, financial companies and other well-known institutions from across the U.S. MSU is the only Mississippi institution of higher education listed. In 2024 and for the ninth consecutive year, MSU was honored by the national publication The Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For.” Also, for the ninth straight year, MSU was named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll for achieving outstanding results in multiple recognition categories.

Baker new director of First-Year Experience program
Mississippi State’s Hannah Baker is the new director of the university’s First-Year Experience program. Baker enters the role after more than four years as academic coordinator in the College of Education’s Department of Teacher Education and Leadership. As First-Year Experience leader, she is overseeing the expansion of FYE 1003, a new three-hour course for freshmen students designed to enrich their connections to MSU. “Connecting students to each other is also a major goal of this program, and Hannah is the perfect person to help expand and improve the solid foundation Mississippi State has established in First-Year Experience. Her impressive skillset will help us advance all of our work in student success across campus,” said Eric Moyen, MSU assistant vice president for Student Success.

Thach named executive director of MSU-led ASSURE
Hannah Thach has been named executive director of the Mississippi State University-led Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, or ASSURE, following the recent retirement of Col. Stephen “Lux” Luxion (ret.). Established as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Center of Excellence for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems research in 2015, ASSURE continues to lead advancements in UAS safety and integration into the national airspace. “ASSURE continues to deliver timely, relevant and impactful research and training on behalf of UAS stakeholders,” Thach said. “I am grateful for our outstanding network of collaborators that work together to solve key challenges and look forward to the continued growth of our organization.”

Taebi named ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering
Mississippi State Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering Amirtahà Taebi is a Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering, a distinction of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, for his contributions and achievements in the field. ASME honored the first cohort of Rising Stars at its recent International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Portland, Oregon. The prestigious award recognizes early-career leaders who have made a significant impact on their field and have previously received federal research support. Taebi received a 2024 National Science Foundation CAREER Award for his pioneering work on a novel screening method for critical congenital heart diseases.