Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Landscape architecture, architecture and graphic design students, faculty and staff gathered at the Green Building Technology Demonstration Pavilion at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum last week for a celebration of more than four years of collaboration. Assistant professors Cory Gallo, Hans Herrmann and Suzanne Powney, of landscape architecture, architecture and graphic design, respectively, spearheaded the project. PHOTO: Megan Bean | University Relations

Faculty Start-up Company of the Year named
Sano Chemical, the company launched to develop an antifungal drug discovered at Mississippi State University, received the university’s Faculty Start-up Company of the Year award earlier this month. Dr. Stephen Pruett, basic sciences department head at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said the award was given by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer at the I3, or Investing in Innovation, conference.

National Volunteer Week events underway
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including National Volunteer Week activities, Academic Integrity Day, community gardens event, and more.

Faculty leadership program seeks nominations
For the 2013-2014 academic year, the Office of Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President will again be conducting an academic leadership program for selected faculty at Mississippi State. This program has been very successful in the past, and many of its participants serve in key leadership positions on campus today. For the upcoming year, attendance will be limited to approximately 12 individuals who will be chosen from those who apply.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning for local elections underway, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity.

Maroon Alert: Sharing emergency updates with MSU
During this time of the year, weather becomes more of a factor in our day-to-day lives at Mississippi State University. The Maroon Alert system is how we communicate with the campus community about emergency situations that may arise on campus. Maroon Alert is a family of communication outlets to communicate about emergency situations. In most situations the primary means of communication are web, e-mail and sometimes instant messaging.

New employee assistance program available
Life is filled with change, opportunities and challenges. The issues may be large or small. Knowing that you have someone who can listen, understand and suggest next steps can make a big difference. And that is where Mississippi State University's new employee assistance program (EAP) and work-life program will help, beginning April 1.

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, 04/22/13
Baseball plays Memphis at Autozone Park at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and then travels to Nashville to open an SEC weekend series on Friday at 6:30 p.m.... Softball hosts Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and then hosts South Carolina on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.... Track and Field begins competition at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday.

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.

Dunaway named arts and sciences dean
A longtime Mississippi State sociology professor and former sociology department head is the university's new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2011, Greg Dunaway became associate dean of the college and, since last year, has served as its interim dean. As dean, the Baltimore, Md., native will oversee all academic programs and fiscal affairs of the college and report directly to Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert.

Hui awarded first NSF grant to MSU in humanities
A member of the Mississippi State history faculty is receiving the first major National Science Foundation grant ever awarded to a humanities department at the university. Assistant history professor Alexandra E. Hui recently was selected for a year-long $155,000 grant to study how the perception of sound has changed over time.

Smith aims to improve value of state’s cattle
David Smith is the first Mikell and Mary Cheek Hall Davis Endowed Professor of Beef Cattle Health and Reproduction at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Smith, a board-certified veterinary epidemiologist, came to MSU from the University of Nebraska. His 30 years of experience in cattle production systems and disease control has prepared him to assist the owners of the 17,000 beef cattle farms in Mississippi.

Art faculty exhibition at Wade Gallery in May, June
A collection presented in a variety of mediums by members of the Mississippi State art department faculty will be featured on campus over the next two months. The May and June showcase at the university's Cullis Wade Depot Gallery will include samples of paintings, ceramics, sculptures, drawings, photography and printmaking. The gallery is located on the second floor of the MSU Welcome Center, located adjacent to the Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State Bookstore.