Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

MSU President's Office staff look around President Mark E. Keenum's future office while touring the fourth floor of Lee Hall. Construction is expected to be completed in May. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

CVM lecture series celebrates human-animal bond
Throughout this week, Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine will celebrate the unique relationship between animals and humans. During the 2013 Nestlé Purina Human-Animal Bond Lecture Series, the university and the state's only veterinary college will feature presenters examining different aspects of the human-animal bond. Taking place Monday-Friday at the Wise Center, the annual event is free and open to all.

ITAR, OPSEC training blitz continues next week
The Office of Research Security at Mississippi State is having an ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and OPSEC (Operations Security) training blitz during October and November. There will three presentations of "Working with ITAR" and "OPSEC - What, Who, Why, When and How." The presentations will be conducted at the High Performance Computing Collaboratory in the Cochran Research Park. The sessions continue next week.

MSU Riley Center boosts Meridian's economy
It’s old made new again, resplendent in its carefully restored 1890s-era décor as 21st century, cutting-edge technology makes every seat and meeting space the best spot in the house. At the corner of 22nd Avenue and 5th Street in Meridian sits an architectural treasure, a crowd-drawing concert house, and an impressive economic engine for the area. Throughout the year and at all hours of any given day, the MSU Riley Center is bringing scores of visitors to the city.

It's spooky how great these opportunities are
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Bulldogs on the Move, Boys and Girls Club Haunted House, Starkville High school football boosters, food drive at Kroger, and more.

CAAD to hold ‘Plagiarism in Design’ discussion
As part of this year's Academic Integrity Week events at Mississippi State, the College of Architecture, Art and Design has teamed up with the Department of Landscape Architecture to host a panel discussion that deals with the issues related to plagiarism in the visual arts. Panelists will include Michael Berk, director of the School of Architecture; Beth Miller, interim associate dean of CAAD and director of the Interior Design Program; Jeffrey Haupt, professor and painting emphasis coordinator in the Department of Art; Peter Bain, assistant professor in the Department of Art; and Sadik Artunc, head of the Department of Landscape Architecture. David C. Lewis, interim director of the Building Construction Science Program, will serve as moderator.

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, 10/28/13
Soccer travels to Oxford to end the regular season against Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on Thursday... Cross Country competes Friday in the SEC Championships in Gainesville... Women's Tennis opens play in the Robert Alison Fall Classic in Tuscaloosa on Friday... Volleyball plays Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday at 7 p.m., and then Auburn at 3 p.m. on Sunday (CSS-TV)... Football is on the road to Columbia on Saturday for an 11:21 a.m. kickoff against South Carolina (SEC-TV)... Men's Basketball hosts Auburn Montgomery in an exhibition game at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

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National Academy member joining BCoE faculty
A member of the National Academy of Engineering will join the faculty ranks in the Bagley College of Engineering. Michael I. Baskes has been named a professor of aerospace engineering and special assistant to the dean. “I am delighted that my first hire is our first NAE member at Mississippi State,” said Dean Achille Messac. “Dr. Baskes joining us is an important component of our ascent to the top tier. His expertise in multifaceted areas of material science will greatly benefit our faculty and students.”

Rogers joins EHS as radiation safety officer
Donna M. Rogers has been named Mississippi State University’s new radiation safety officer. Previously, Rogers worked as an industrial hygienist at MSU's Institute for Clean Energy Technology where she was responsible for safety of laboratory and pilot scale research activities, including high-hazard projects.

Wildlife society honors Burger
The associate director of two research centers at Mississippi State University is a new Fellow in The Wildlife Society. Loren W. “Wes” Burger Jr., a professor in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, was recognized for exceptional service to the wildlife profession at the 2013 annual meeting of The Wildlife Society. Burger serves as associate director of the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

Bagley publications earn regional recognition
Three Mississippi State University Bagley College of Engineering publications have earned recognition in a regional public relations competition. The BCoE's publications office consists of publications manager Heather Rowe and publications editor Susan Lassetter. Photographers Beth Wynn, Megan Bean and Russ Houston of Mississippi State's Office of Public Affairs provided additional support for these publications.