Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Bagley College of Engineering celebrated Towel Day last Wednesday. Towel Day came about in honor of the late Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Computer science research associates Wesley McGrew and Kendall Blaylock and graduate student Phil Akers enjoyed participating in Towel Day and were ready for a bit of fun after conducting a computer forensics training session for police officers. PHOTO: Megan Bean | University Relations

Allison leading statewide organization
Dan Allison, an occupational therapist at Mississippi State University's T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability, will serve a two-year term as president of the Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association.

Units combine to improve services
Mississippi State recently merged the Mississippi Variety Testing and Mississippi Foundation Seed Stocks, both research support units in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, to further strengthen efficiency and research efforts.

RCU program cited as national model
A teacher preparation program for high school students developed by Mississippi State University's Research and Curriculum Unit is being highlighted as a national model.

Flood information for students, faculty and staff
Students, faculty and staff affected by Mississippi River flooding can find important information about disaster preparation, recovery, clean up and rebuilding at http://msucares.com/disaster/flooding/index.html.

'Avoiding Heat Stress' employee program offered
The Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety is offering a new program to university employees titled "Avoiding Heat Stress," which addresses the considerations of working in hot environments both indoors and outdoors.

Floral design workshop registration open
Applications now are being taken for the popular annual floral design workshop held each summer by Mississippi State's floral management program. Now in its 12th year, the weeklong training typically draws participants to the university that range between floral business employees to homeowners interested in the latest design concepts for personal use.

Research Park construction project closes road
A section of road between Joe Baddley Drive and the entrance to the western parking lot of the A.B. McKay Food Research and Enology Lab building is closed due to construction of a new business incubator building in the Research Park.

Volunteers needed for Migrant Education Program
The Migrant Education Service Center is in need of volunteers to work with migratory children from ages 3-21. Positions are available in many counties.

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.

University closed Monday for Memorial Day
Mississippi State University will be closed Monday for the observance of Memorial Day.

Support Staff Conference gets back to basics
The 2011 Support Staff Conference had Mississippi State staff members getting "Back to the Basics" May 17 during the day-long annual event in Colvard Student Union.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With statewide political campaigns underway this year, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities.

Perkes part of team receiving $100K research grant
A member of the Mississippi State architecture faculty is part of a four-person team receiving the American Institute of Architecture's prestigious Latrobe Prize. The $100,000 research grant is going to associate professor David Perkes, director of the university's Gulf Coast Community Design Studio in Biloxi, and three others.