Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University have entered into a memorandum of understanding to work together to study the health of protected, threatened and endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico area. This collaborative effort will provide research, clinical and student externship opportunities. Shown with MSU President Mark E. Keenum, center, at the MOU signing are, from left, Dr. John Pitchford, Dr. Delphine Shannon, Dr. Moby Solangi and Dr. Andy Coleman. The researchers also made a presentation at the CVM on their current research activities and collaborative partnerships. PHOTO: Russ Houston | University Relations

NSF program officer visiting campus Friday
The Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State will host Thomas Baerwald from the National Science Foundation's Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences on Friday. Open to all MSU faculty, researchers, staff and students. Baerwald's presentation, "Funding Opportunities and Proposal-Writing Strategies for Social and Behavioral Science Research at NSF," begins at 10 a.m. in the Bost Extension Center theater.

Nominate your students for Spirit of State
Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the eighth-annual Spirit of State awards. With these awards, Mississippi State will recognize outstanding contributions made by our students toward improving student life. These premier awards are open to all Mississippi State students from all campuses and recognize excellence in campus involvement, service to the university community, actions that promote the Spirit of State, and overall impact on peers and the broader campus community.

Volunteers needed to plant trees starting Feb. 11
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Maroon Edition: Planting Trees for MSU's Future, Bridges Out of Poverty community training, Jeans for Teens, One Million Bones, and more.

New art faculty exhibit runs through Feb. 23
New faculty in Mississippi State's Department of Art are showcasing their artwork during an exhibition running through Feb. 23. Titled "New Associations: Works by New Faculty in the Department of Art," the show in the gallery in McComas Hall will feature works by Adrienne Callander, Neil Callander, Gregory Martin and Suzanne Powney.

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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 02/04/13
Men's Basketball travels to Oxford on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. game against Ole Miss (CSS-TV), and then plays Florida in Gainesville on Saturday at 4 p.m. (FSN-TV)... Men's Tennis plays Ole Miss in the River Hills Cup on Thursday at 5 p.m. in Jackson, and then hosts South Alabama at 11 a.m. and Tennessee Tech at 5 p.m. on Sunday... Softball hosts the Kickoff Classic: Friday, Troy, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Tennessee State, 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, Georgia State, 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, South Alabama, 3:30 p.m.... Women's Tennis hosts New Orleans at 1:30 p.m. on Friday...Track and Field competes Friday and Saturday at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, and the Samford Multi Invitational in Birmingham... Men's Golf competes Saturday and Sunday in the Gator Invitational in Gainesville.

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.

Gilbert to serve as interim during engineering search
Mississippi State University’s provost and executive vice president will serve as interim leader of the Bagley College of Engineering during a national search for its next dean. Jerome A. Gilbert will assume the responsibilities of interim dean in late February. He will serve in this position as the university conducts a nationwide search to fill the position being vacated by Sarah Rajala, who was recently named dean of the college of engineering at Iowa State.

Clark joins Extension Service as consumer expert
The Mississippi State University Extension Service has hired a new associate in response to Mississippians’ growing interest in returning to traditional methods of food preparation and preservation, sewing and home arts. Sylvia Clark serves as an Extension associate for family and consumer sciences.

University to host Boys State through 2015
Mississippi State University has been selected as the 2013-15 host campus for Mississippi's American Legion Boys State -- the nation's premier program for teaching how government works, developing leadership skills and nurturing an appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. President Mark E. Keenum said the university community and its resources are committed to making the American Legion Boys State experience at MSU "second to none."

Four awarded SEC Visiting Faculty Travel Grants
Thanks to an innovative grant program funded by the Southeastern Conference, four Mississippi State University faculty members are now better equipped to collaborate with SEC colleagues from across the region. Richard Baird, Matthew Berg, Islam El-adaway and Giselle Thibaudeau are recipients of 2013 SEC Visiting Faculty Travel Grants.