Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University staff members Bobbie Baker (left to right), Meg Arnold, NaToya Hill, Alex Washington and Adrienne Morris joined MSU President Mark E. Keenum (center) for MVNU2MSU on Saturday. Hundreds of faculty and staff volunteers spent the day on campus to help students move into their residence halls. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 19. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | University Relations

Maroon Edition Habitat groundbreaking Monday
Mississippi State University and Habitat for Humanity officials will break ground for the fifth Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity house Monday [Aug. 12] at 10:30 a.m. MSU President Mark E. Keenum, along with Habitat Executive Director Joel Downey, will speak, and other university and Habitat officials will attend. Keenum traditionally drives the first nail for the annual project.

Public forums for MSCL director candidates set
After a nationwide search, the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State University will host three finalists for the position of director of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory and state chemist. During their visits to Starkville, each candidate will deliver a public presentation. Interested members of the campus community are invited to attend these sessions.

CVM hosting Research Day on Thursday
The College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University invites faculty, staff and students to its seventh-annual Research Day at the Wise Center on Thursday. The special event highlights and promotes the research conducted by CVM's veterinary and graduate students. The National Institutes of Health's Franziska Grieder is the featured speaker.

SPA taking nominations for 'Working Group'
After a successful launch last year, Sponsored Programs Administration at Mississippi State University is taking nominations for year two of the Departmental Administrator Working Group -- DAWG, for short. The professional development program provides participants an eight-month curriculum designed to develop sponsored-project administration skills and foster networking opportunities with campus peers.

Opportunities to volunteer on, off campus this week
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including the MSU Statewide School at the T.K. Martin Center, Starkville High School Football Boosters, Habitat for Humanity, Starkville Community Market, Service DAWGS Day, and more.

P.R.E.P/Emergency Preparedness Week next month
Will your family be prepared when disaster strikes? Learn from the experts in disaster preparedness. The MSU Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) and the Maroon Volunteer Center are hosting Emergency Preparedness Week from Sept. 16-21, offering free disaster preparedness training sessions that are open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members.

MSU Riley Center announces new season
The MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian is again bringing the best in music and theater to the stage with a 2013–2014 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series that has an “adventurous variety” of musicians, actors and family-friendly shows. Whether you love legendary music or prefer to hear new, contemporary sounds, whether you like serious theater or want to bring the whole family to a lighthearted show, the upcoming season will treat ticket holders to a wide range of exciting entertainment.

Ticket sales for Lyceum Series events underway
Advance tickets now are available for Mississippi State's 2013-14 Lyceum Series. With the university's longest running entertainment program set to get under way in mid-September, admissions may be purchased for all six, or individually selected, performances. Gretchen Parlato, an award-winning jazz vocalist soon to join the faculty at New York's Manhattan School of Music, will inaugurate the season Sept. 19. As with all but the final Lyceum event this year, her performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium.

Argonne officials, researchers visit in September
In early September, Mississippi State University will host officials from one of the world’s leading research facilities. During the two-day visit, MSU faculty, staff, administrators and students will have opportunities to meet with Argonne National Laboratory leaders and researchers and explore partnership and funding possibilities, among other topics.

New library exhibit highlights Mississippi Blues Trail
A newly installed exhibit at Mississippi State's Mitchell Memorial Library highlights the musical history of the state and prominent Mississippi blues musicians. The second floor exhibit will be featured through the end of August.

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.

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.

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, 08/12/13
Soccer hosts South Alabama in an exhibition match at the MSU Soccer Field on Friday at 7 p.m.

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Hardwick reelected to MAPE board of directors
Phil Hardwick, coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University, has been elected to the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education Board of Directors for the 2013-14 term. “One of the best economic development projects is improvement of local schools through school-community partnerships," Hardwick said. "That's what MAPE is all about.”

Green named president of engineering society
A Mississippi State veteran research engineer and undergraduate coordinator for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering is the new president of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Robert Green, who has been active in the NSPE for more than 25 years, was inducted as the 2013-14 president during the July national conference in Minneapolis, Minn. Green became a Fellow of the society in 2007.

Carskadon hired as digital media reporter
Mississippi State University has hired Bob Carskadon as digital media reporter, director of athletics Scott Stricklin announced Aug. 2. Carskadon, who had served as a correspondent for nearly a year, will cover each of the Bulldogs' 16 varsity sports for HailState.com.

Walker joins Mississippi State volleyball staff
Greg Walker has joined the Mississippi State volleyball staff as an assistant coach, Jenny Hazelwood announced Aug. 2. Walker will coach outside hitters and opposite hitters, work closely with player development and handle a wide array of additional administrative duties within the Bulldog volleyball program.