Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Thick fog gave way to sunnier skies at Mississippi State University's Cobb Institute of Archaeology last Wednesday. This week's weather forecast includes high temperatures in the 50s with a mix of clouds, rain and sun. PHOTO: Megan Bean | University Relations

Dunlap to be first artist-in-residence
After a career spanning more than three decades as an artist, arts commentator and educator, Mississippi native William "Bill" Dunlap now will help set the bar for students as Mississippi State's first artist-in-residence. While at MSU, Dunlap will utilize the department's studio spaces to work with ceramics, sculpture and printmaking and provide art majors the opportunity to work alongside and experience his creative process.

Ramaswamy speaks Monday at Bost theater
Former Mississippi State faculty member Sonny Ramaswamy, now a senior U.S. Department of Agriculture administrator, will speak Monday, Feb. 11 on campus. He currently directs USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Open to all university faculty, staff and students, his presentation is titled "Setting the Table for a Hotter, Flatter, and More Crowded Earth." The program begins at 1 p.m. in the Bost Extension Center theater.

Stuedeman keynotes Tuesday hoops luncheon
HailState Hoops' luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 12 promises to be Vanntastic as the Bulldog women's basketball team welcomes Mississippi State head softball coach Vann Stuedeman as the guest speaker. The luncheon, which will be held in Mize Pavilion, is open to the public with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. Cost for each luncheon is $12, and includes Stuedeman talking about the upcoming softball season, a meal, game highlights and question and answer sessions with head coach Vic Schaefer and players.

MSU Foundation announces board leaders
The Mississippi State University Foundation is announcing 2013 leaders and incoming members for the 46-seat board of directors that guides the fundraising arm of the 135-year-old land grant institution. Incoming officers with one-year terms that began Jan. 1 include Bobby S. Shackouls, Earnest W. "Earnie" Deavenport and Mary M. Childs of Ripley. MSU staff members make up the remaining board officers. John P. Rush, vice president for development and alumni, is the board's CEO; David Easley, executive director of finance, chief financial officer; and Jack McCarty, executive director of development, board secretary.

Nominations open for outstanding women awards
The Mississippi State program to annually recognize exceptional women across the four campus employment categories and the Starkville community now is accepting nominations for its 2013 awards. The university President's Commission on the Status of Women is receiving Outstanding Women Award nominations through Feb. 25.

Ragtime Festival returns for seventh year
World-renowned ragtime musicians again will deliver spectacular rhythms and outstanding showmanship during Mississippi State's seventh annual Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival. Taking place on the university campus March 22-23, the major spring event includes evening concerts in the McComas Hall Auditorium, along with daytime sessions and tours at the Templeton Music Museum in Mitchell Memorial Library.

Regions Bank supporting DAFVM faculty awards
Regions Bank announced Feb. 7 a multi-year $50,000 contribution to support major faculty awards in Mississippi State's Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. Over five years, Regions will provide $10,000 annually for The Regions Bank-DAFVM Superior Faculty Awards, a new program to recognize high-caliber faculty. The awards program was initiated by Gregory A. Bohach, the university's vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine.

Great ways to volunteer everyday this week
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, tutoring with Sally Kate Winters, Mississippi Science and Engineering Fairs, Student Honor Code Office Exam Proctoring, and more.

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.

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, 02/11/13
Softball is on the road Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game against Louisiana-Lafayette, and then returns home for the Bulldog Battle with games against Western Kentucky on Saturday at noon, Northwestern State at 2 p.m.; and on Sunday Murray State at noon, and Lipscomb at 2 p.m.... Men's Basketball hosts Missouri at 7 p.m., and then travels to Baton Rouge for a game with LSU on Saturday at 4 p.m.... Women's Basketball is on the road to Oxford for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Ole Miss on Thursday, and then hosts LSU on Sunday at 12:30 p.m....Track and Field competes Friday at the LSU Twilight... Men's Tennis opens play in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Seattle on Friday... Baseball opens the 2013 campaign with a weekend series with Portland: Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday (DH) 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday 2 p.m.... Women's Tennis hosts Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

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Stevenson named chief diversity officer
Mississippi State administrator Tommy J. Stevenson is taking on an expanded role as the university's new chief diversity officer and director of the recently renamed Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. As a member of the MSU President's Cabinet, Stevenson will advise the university's president and provost/executive vice president on diversity issues, one of his numerous responsibilities associated with opportunity and inclusion on campus.

Extension taps Threadgill as associate director
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is strengthening its administrative team by adding a second associate director. Paula Threadgill, who currently serves as the state program leader for Family and Consumer Sciences and the interim state program leader for the 4-H Youth Development program, will begin her new role as an Extension associate director immediately.

Soccer staff completed with addition of Casella
Mississippi State soccer coach Aaron Gordon recently completed his coaching staff with the addition of veteran club and college coach Phil Casella. The Bayside, N.Y., native spent 2011 and 2012 as head coach of the New York Fury in the Women's Premier Soccer League, the largest women's soccer league in the world.

World society honors D'Abramo as fellow
An aquaculture researcher at Mississippi State University has been named a fellow of the World Aquaculture Society for his contributions to the advancement of global aquaculture. Aquaculture specialist Lou D’Abramo -- who serves as dean of MSU’s Office of the Graduate School, associate vice president for Academic Affairs, and Giles Distinguished Professor of wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture -- will be honored in late February in Nashville at the World Aquaculture Society’s annual meeting.