Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

This white oak tree in front of Oak Hall will have acorns for squirrels and blue jays during the fall semester, set to begin Aug. 19. Residence halls, including Oak Hall, will open Saturday, Aug. 10, at 8 a.m. as part of the annual "Movin' You to MSU" (MVNU2MSU). PHOTO: Beth Wynn | University Relations

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Charlie Bush
When Charlie Bush heads out of the Simpson County Extension Office, you won’t catch him listening to the latest popular music. “I like listening to the old country singers and songwriters, like Townes Van Zandt, John Prine and Hank Williams Sr.,” Bush said. “I haven’t listened to the radio in years.” Bush spends a lot of time on the road, meeting with clients in his job as a county Extension agent.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Tabitha McRunnels
For six years, Tabitha McRunnels has been teaching parents in Lee County how to get quick, easy and healthy meals on the table. McRunnels is an Extension program assistant for the Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. As the mother of three children, she understands the pressure parents are under. “I go into WIC offices, DHS offices, churches and individual homes to teach general nutrition classes to low-income moms and dads,” McRunnels said.

Reserve a Habitat for Humanity shift for your group
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Early Start Move In Day, Volunteer Starkville Healthier You Summer Camp, Starkville Community Market, Service DAWGS Day, and more.

Search underway for MSCL director, state chemist
Mississippi State University is now accepting applications and nominations for the position of state chemist and Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory director. The laboratory employs approximately 25 professionals and support staff, and is involved in regulatory and public service programs, analytical services, and assistance to citizens, businesses and research programs. The director and state chemist serves as chief scientist and administrative officer of the MSCL.

Proposal development assistance from SPA
Sponsored Programs Administration and the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State University are committed to helping faculty find the resources needed to support research endeavors. Recognizing that not all faculty members have departmental support for proposal development, SPA is working to provide this support as needed.

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.

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 helps.

Bulldogs announce non-conference schedule
Year two of the Rick Ray era officially tips off on Nov. 8 when Mississippi State plays host to Prairie View A&M. In all, the Bulldogs play 13 non-conference games, including nine at Humphrey Coliseum. MSU will also play at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo on Dec. 13 against Southeastern Louisiana, while also playing two games in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Dec. 22-23. A Dec. 1 Loyola game at the Hump will give MSU fans the opportunity to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the historic NCAA Tournament “Game of Change” outing that took place between the two in 1963.

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.

Lindley named president of statewide association
Mississippi State Police Department Chief Georgia Lindley was elected the 2013-2014 president of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police at a recent conference in Biloxi. "I am very much looking forward to serving the citizens of the state of Mississippi in this capacity," she said. A 34-year veteran of the MSU Police Department, Lindley was appointed chief of police in 2005, making her the first female to lead law enforcement at the land-grant institution.

Longtime Mississippi State publicist Dier retires
After more than 30 years working in various capacities publicizing Mississippi State athletics, Joe Dier retired July 1 from his position as assistant director of media relations. Dier began his career at Mississippi State on Nov. 1, 1986, hired by athletic director Charlie Carr to serve as the primary media contact for every Bulldog sport. He was MSU’s third full-time sports information director, following Bob Hartley and Bo Carter.

First Writing Excellence institute concludes
Nine Mississippi State faculty are the first class of graduates in a new university training program focused on using writing to foster student understanding and concept retention. "Many of us had no idea what we were signing up for in the institute," said Deborah Lee, MSU Libraries professor. "We entered as believers and doubters, and we challenged those beliefs. We had stimulating discussion. We wrote and we wrote and we wrote. We became a community of knowledgeable peers, and that is what our goal is -- to create those in our classes."

MSU to lead community improvement initiative
Mississippi State will begin directing the Appalachian Community Learning Project in 2015, and the leadership transition has already begun. Many Magnolia State neighborhoods already have benefited from the "Community Sparkplugs" initiative, which allows teams of local volunteers to develop results-based plans that enhance their communities, said Joe Fratesi, project director at the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development.