Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Junction webcam shows a quiet campus in the days before Mississippi State's winter break. Activity picks up this week with spring semester classes underway on Monday. The webcam is online at http://gameday.msstate.edu/webcam.php.

Thompson tabbed among nation's top assistants
Mississippi State associate head baseball coach Butch Thompson has been singled out as one of college baseball's top assistant baseball coaches by Perfect Game USA, a leading national baseball scouting service. A native of Amory, he directed the development of a Bulldog pitching staff that compiled an SEC-leading 2.58 staff earned run average, the second-best ERA in college baseball last spring.

Gordon joins Bulldog soccer staff as assistant coach
Ashley Gordon, who has enjoyed tremendous success as a coach and player, will join husband Aaron Gordon Mississippi State soccer staff as an assistant coach. She will work with her husband to build a championship program at Mississippi State after helping make Texas Tech a contender in the Big 12 Conference the past six seasons.

SEC visiting faculty travel grant applications wanted
The Southeastern Conference Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program is intended to enhance faculty collaboration that stimulates scholarly initiatives between SEC universities. Mississippi State University can select a maximum of four faculty members to receive 2013 travel grants of $2,500 each for transportation, room, board, etc., to use for travel to another SEC campus. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

MVC: Resolve to volunteer this spring!
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including information about its new volunteer management system, MLK Jr. Day of Service projects and events, Semester of Service challenge information, and details about a need for volunteer bicycle safety instructors, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

Davis Wade commemorative bricks available
The Mississippi State Bulldog Club has launched the Davis Wade Stadium Commemorative Brick Program for the north end zone expansion of Davis Wade Stadium. The bricks are available online or by phone and can be ordered in two sizes -- 4'"x 8" and 8" x 8". A 12" x 12" granite paver is also available. Bricks and pavers can be personalized and several options include a replica keepsake.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 01/07/13
Men's Basketball hosts South Carolina at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and then travels to Athens to play Georgia on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (SEC Network TV)... Women's Basketball hosts Florida on Thursday at 7 p.m., and is on the road to Baton Rouge on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tipoff against LSU... Track and Field competes Thursday and Friday in the UAB Invitational and in the Alabama High Tide on Saturday.

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.

Spring health screenings set to start Monday
As part of a campus-wide nutrition and fitness initiative, MSU on the Move and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi will offer health screenings for all Mississippi State students, faculty and staff beginning Monday, Jan. 7. Ring in the new year by knowing your health numbers, and making a commitment to lose weight, eat healthy and get in shape.

Heiselt to lead new service-learning center
With the beginning of the 2013 spring semester, one very busy Mississippi State faculty member will become even busier. April K. Heiselt is being named director of the university's new Center for the Advancement of Service-Learning Excellence. She officially began the part-time duty Jan. 1 while continuing as an associate professor in the College of Education's counseling and educational psychology department.

Keenum tapped for APLU organization's board
The president of Mississippi State University has been elected to a key leadership role in the organization that represents the nation's leading research and land-grant universities. Mark E. Keenum recently was elected to a term on the American Public Land-Grant Universities Board of Directors. Based in Washington, D.C., the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is a research and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions, and state university systems.

Faculty members to present at SEC Symposium
As a proud land-grant institution, Mississippi State embraces traditions of academic excellence and economic contributions through education, research and service to benefit local, national and international communities. Campus representatives soon will travel to Georgia to celebrate MSU's impact, as well as similar accomplishments of the 13 sister Southeastern Conference partners at the inaugural Southeastern Conference Symposium to be held Feb. 10-12 in Atlanta.